Its been a busy weekend here at Oak Knoll. Friday was Halloween which is an extraordinarily exciting time here in the USA. Over and above the mountains of candy and ghouls and whispery white spider webs and brilliant orange pumpkins that litter the neighborhoods as far as the eye can see Halloween, it seems, signals the beginning of a very long and homey holiday season.
Never having been a fan of Christmas I took very readily to these new, deeply pagan festivities which the American people celebrate with much pomp and ceremony each year. For someone who used to dread holiday season more than a trip to the dentist I now find myself partaking in the annual rituals with pleasure and anticipation. Many will say that it must be that I have simply matured and settled down since marrying but, I have to disagree and say that it is simply the spirit of American society and the manner in which they celebrate their holidays and festivals.
Of course commercialization is rife and were you to visit any of the larger Malls or shopping centers the ’spirit of the season’ being - the more gifts you give and money you spend the better your holiday will be is undoubtedly evident. Thankfully my lifestyle keeps me far from many of those places as does the absence of any children.
Mostly Americans are particularly traditional when it comes to celebrating holidays and I find it most interesting that in a predominantly Christian society, the holidays held most sacred and adhered to with particular traditional etiquette are ones that have primarily pagan roots.
Perhaps this is why I can finally stomach the holiday season, because celebrating means giving thanks for being together, for food on the table and the gift of being together.
And celebrate we do!
-Alice-