I do both for my kids, I belong to a small coven out here in Nevada, its not as active as the one I belonged to in IL, but it is nice to have ppl to celebrate Yule with, This year I actually did Yule twice, Saturday night there was a drum circle Yule celebration that my tribal dance troop and a troop from Reno got together for with some drummers and burning man ppl and we had a lil electic spiritual winter solstice type gathering, I didnt take my kids to that one, that one was more adult based. Then the coven had the traditional Yule ritual/feast Wednesday night, I did take my kids , and it was a nice time, and then on xmas eve, I always have our own lil family thing, my husband is from Sweden, only lived here since he met me online 6 years ago.
They do xmas on xmas eve, so we open packages from his family from sweden, we make cookies and drink glogg..a swedish drink and light up the house with candles. The kids really love that and its a way to slip in spirituality without having to go all out you know? It just creates that glow of fire in the house and even my husband, the big vikking athesit gets a lil mushy without meaning too..lol
Then xmas morning I admit..were full out santa commercialist..lol
I cant help it, I had a crappy *** childhood..and I live for my kids, and yes I over due it every year..well Santa does..and I dont really feel proud of that..BUT yup I do it..every single dam year..lol
and honestly I wouldnt trade watching my kids rip open them prezzies for nothing..lol
then I do continue on for the days between the first yule celebrations into new years day, I try to meditate alot, call up any first signs of sun energy , and try to decide and get ready for my personal week before new years rituals of where I want to see my life head in the upcomming year, and I do include the kids in this, I leave my husband alone, he is very non religous of any sort and not into things and I just simply leave him be to be himself , but the kids ..I dont shove anything at them but I do try and get them to make goals for the years, things they maybe want to learn about/try out, someplace they might want to visit in the up comming year, a old friend to go see , anything like that..and because they go to yule I think they do understand hibernation, energy levels, the solstices and how they affect us, ect.
So thats what I do, Some years the commericalism, even though I myself feed into it, still has bothered me, my son is from a previous relationship, he is 10, and there was one xmas I was working in retail, as a cashier, and like most cashiers I was working way too many hours and utterly freaked out.
AT that time I was also a single mom and extremely poor and on welfare.
And I remember this lady came through my line and spent 800 on xmas decor.
Just the decorations! That was 2 months rent for me, or a good 14 weeks of groceries ..months worth of food..boom gone on her decor..
and I remember just feeling sick..just totally sick about it...
I eventually met my husband and we make ok money, were not rich, but we dont suffer either. and this year I spent more on lights and a pre lighted tree then I ever had before..and I did feel a bit silly doing it...but I know I will take care of the things I buy and reuse them for as many years as I can..and I guess thats how I make my peace with holiday spending, if I know it will be loved and taken care of it dosnt bother me, its the wasteful crap that bothers me. The only way I find to solace myself in that, is that atleast around Lake Tahoe, cali, which is where we go to look at lights and stuff , up the mountian here, those ppl usually do donate alot of what they overbrought, right to our thrift stores and it does help good causes, I have found comfort in that, since I am the thrift store queen..
and I know those of us who buy the waste from the thrift store are helping victums of domestic abuse, and the senior center's store and such..
so thats one way I have come to see it.