In the United States we love celebrating occasions- Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, birthdays, un-birthdays, and, of course…Christmas. Do you “occasionally” find yourself dreading those holiday hassles?
As women, we are particularly prone to feeling responsible for holidays and special occasions. We shop for the perfect gifts and spend countless hours adorning packages with colorful paper and bows; we make endless trips to the grocery store buying food for feasts; we organize tree-trimming gatherings, and climb rickety ladders retrieving lights, ornaments and wreathes to decorate inside and out. We often spend money we don’t have in pursuit of an ideal nestled into our memories leftover from Christmases past. Sometimes those memories don’t match the reality of the frenzy inherent in the festivities. Now, let me be quick to add, I LOVE CHRISTMAS. When I contemplated converting to Judaism in my former marriage, I was perfectly willing to celebrate Rosh Hashanah and spend the day fasting in quiet contemplation on Yom Kippur. However, giving up Christmas was out of the question. But, just for the sake of this exercise, try imagining a different kind of holiday, one that might not feel as harried. What would your ideal holiday look and feel like?
Meet Santa Yogi. Santa Yogi reminds us to kick back and breathe through the frenzy of the holiday festivities. Let this symbol serve as a visual mantra reminding you to transcend the stress and schedules and re-discover the playful side of this colorful holiday. Namaste. Merry Christmas. Happy Chanukah. Happy Kwanzaa. Happy Boxer Day.
