The Festive Season, as it should be

A couple of weeks ago, we took a drive to Oldenburg in Germany, some four hours away, to meet up with our cousins to enjoy the Christmas Market in Oldenburg. These German markets are renowned for their festive spirit and good cheer. We found the greatest gifts ... love, care, attention and time with family and friends.

Feel free to add a comment to this video on Youtube

The first news report that appeared on Dutch television after Christmas, was about people placing their unwanted gifts on auction websites like e-Bay.

Gee, isn't this just a sad reflection of what the Festive Season has become?

Instead of showing our loved ones how much we love them by giving them our time, care and attention, we buy each other gifts instead - as a placement or representation of our love.

And because we're too busy rushing around leading hectic lives, to be able to afford these gifts and to maintain our materialistic lifestyle, we don't have the time that is needed to find out more about the recipient, or to discover what he / she might actually enjoy.

Don't get me wrong, I love getting and opening presents as much as the next person. We should give each other gifts. Giving a gift is a personal, vulnerable thing. What if they don't like it? Is it the right thing to give? Will they understand why I want them to have it?

Perhaps these questions play a big part in why so many gifts are unwanted? People don't necessarily want to expose themselves like that, so they buy a generic gift that carries the promise "people will love you for giving it". We eagerly listen to marketers and their big promises.

So what happens when we receive an unwanted or a strange gift? Do we wonder why that person bought that item? What were they thinking of (us) at the time of purchase? Was it just the quickest thing at hand? Or was it (gasp) ... a re-gift?

The whole idea of giving gifts (and Santa Claus) originates from a Dutch / Flemish festival called Sinterklaas, which is a shortened version of "Sint Nicolaas". Nicholas lived in Myra (present day Turkey) between 271 and 343 AD. He inherited his parent's wealth when they died of an epidemic.

He distributed it amongst sailors and merchants, and then became a priest. Over time, Saint Nicholas also became known as the patron saint of travellers. The Dutch and Flemish still celebrate his life on the 5th of December each year, giving small hand-made gifts and making good-natured rhymes that poke fun at the recipient.

"The emphasis is on originality and personal effort rather than the commercial value of the gift."

Sadly this tradition is giving way to the commerciality of Christmas. Shockingly, our Western culture discourages hand-made gifts. Things are said to only have value if they've been bought. But how can the hours and care taken to make a gift be worthless?

Surely the greatest gift we can give each other is our time, care and attention? I would love to see the Festive Season return to being about spending valuable time together, caring for each other and sharing special moments, and being less dependent on the gifts that are given.

[2008-01-06] This video was taken on 16 December 2007 at the Oldenburg Christmas Market in Germany. History of Sinterklaas sources: Wikipedia - Saint Nicholas | Feast of Sinterklaas

© Written for Tours and Tales by Marcel and Victoria Koning (Marvic). We promote responsible tourism and love nature and wildlife, discovering new places and different cultures.

"A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving." ~ Lao Tzu