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Christmas traditions & festivities, Gift-giving at Christmas, Human consumption, Mother Earth, Santa Claus, Storyteller, UN Climate Change Conference Madrid 2019
Christmas Cactus – Gift of Mother Earth – My succulent garden
Photo taken November 23, 2019
Our climate emergency is for real. In his address at the opening of the United Nations Climate Change Conference held on December 2 to 13, 2019, in Madrid, Spain, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said:
The latest, just-released data from the World Meteorological Organization show that levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have reached another new record high. Global average levels of carbon dioxide reached 407.8 parts per million in 2018. And I remember, not long ago, 400 parts per million was seen as an unthinkable tipping point. We are well over it. The last time there was a comparable concentration of CO2 was between 3 and 5 million years ago, when the temperature was between 2 and 3 degrees Celsius warmer than now and sea levels were 10 to 20 metres higher than today.
Yet our collective behavior indicate that we humans are still in denial. Here in the United States, beginning on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, commercial activity has exploded with preparations for the Christmas festivities. Whether we’re Christians or not, Christmas traditions permeate our lives.
Christmas tree lighting ceremonies, organized by our town and city halls, mark the beginning of the season. We decorate our homes. In some neighborhoods, homeowners seem to outdo each other in decorating their front yards. Our children take part in Christmas pageants that enact the birth of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the cause of joyful celebrations among Christians worldwide. Traditional Christmas carols lift our spirits. Another important part of our Christmas traditions is Santa Claus with his workshop of elves, toiling year-round to make gifts for children for delivery during the wee hours on Christmas Day.
Gift giving has exploded over decades of massive advertising to sell us the magic of Christmas. Consumption is at its peak during this time of the year. The anticipated shopping frenzy sends our manufacturing and commercial sectors into overdrive. Our economy booms. Caught up in this consumption madness, we stretch our credit cards to their limits. We put stuff on layaway with the hopes of slicing our budget into even more morsels.
Many of our Christmas traditions are stories we’ve created to add meaning to our joyless lives. For our children. To see the joy on their faces. But Mother Earth, the real Santa Claus, can’t keep up with the pace of our consumption and waste. Our ecological degradation and toxic wastes affect the health of all the elves in her workshop that provide us with her greatest gift of all—LIFE.
If Mother Earth is to keep on giving to all her children in the planetary Web of Life, we urgently need to re-think the way we celebrate Christmas. We need to stop buying stuff we can’t afford, that people don’t need. Instead, let us create new traditions of giving of ourselves, of our individual talents or learned skills.
When we get together for our Christmas parties—at school, in the workplace, among family and friends—we could sing a song, share a poem or folk tale, tell jokes, dance, play a musical instrument, imitate a popular character, or whatever self-expression comes from our heart. Such activities not only provide fun and laughter, but can also bring us closer to each other.
Let us give with joy from the well of our sorrow. Let us give without expecting anything in return. Such is the true nature of giving as Mother Earth has taught us. She gives freely to each one of us—naughty and nice alike, deserving and undeserving. She asks only that we take care of her gifts.
This Christmas Season let us open our hearts to the brokenhearted, the homeless, the hungry, the lonely, the refugee, and the Other that we have been taught to fear and hate.
I’m a storyteller. My stories are my gift to each one of you. Know that they come from the heart, from my well of joy and sorrow.
drgeraldstein said:
I appreciate the sentiment. I wonder whether those skilled in researching persuasive messaging are working on the best methods of turning a sceptical and stressed population to save the planet? That would be a dissertation topic worth doing.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Dr. Stein, I have no doubt that there are groups worldwide working at new messaging, but, tragically for humanity, the corporate mainstream media drowns out all other voices.
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athousandbitsofpaper said:
I am of the same mood where it comes to Christmas this year – shopping frenzies have always left me cold but there seems to be an even greater urgent need to stop this kind of mad buying of things which just – in the end- so often are wasted and contribute to landfill. Is this a bit grinch like? No because on the other hand I love to give – give pieces of me – I’m making essential oil balms and salts in recycled containers that come back to me for free refills, I’m having a fellow artist and musician put my poetry into a special song for my husband who has everything he needs but lately has been lacking in me time. These sorts of things hopefully come across as heart full rather than grinch like. I can’t seem to muster the appetite for bright bags full of wasted things otherwise. Wise post thank you for sharing
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Kathryn. Whenever we go against the norm for the herd of humanity, the masters of the dominant narrative try to shame us with such name-calling as that of “Grinch.” One of my relatives accused me of being “selfish and mean” when I took the stand years ago of not sharing Christmas gifts.
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athousandbitsofpaper said:
I’m thinking this year I’d gifting on some of my beautiful things that I don’t use – like my Chinese blue and white ginger jars and antique tea sets – I want less clutter but know people who would love them – just not sure how that would go down.
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Sha'Tara said:
We, those of us who think, that is, are up against the a most virulent attack against life on planet Earth by a monster we all know well: predatory capitalism. The monster relies on programming and brainwashing to fatten itself at life’s expense. We must kill the monster, each one of us individually taking up “arms” against it. I have two weapons that I use: compassion and boycott.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Like you, Sha’Tara, my weapons are compassion and boycott. But I believe that we have to go beyond a mere boycott and move towards a radical lifestyle change that, among other changes, doesn’t focus on the accumulation of stuff.
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Sha'Tara said:
Oh yes, I’m totally in tune with you on that, no warries! But out of desperation at the way things are going, I try to find “instantly applicagle” ways of attack. I use words like ‘weapons’ and ‘attack’ because we are in a full-blown war against a monster that is literally eating up our world as in Greg Bear’s “The Forge of God.” It was the concept of boycott that made me realize how much advertised as needs were totally unnecessary, then the concept of compassion showed me that instead of spending on polluting waste I could spend the same money (energy) on direct and immediate help to people I could see needed it. I also learned that most middlemen “charitable” institutions were just more fluff and waste and the point was to teach myself to respond to social need on my own, with my own resources properly applied, and that meant learning self empowerment. So you see, we must begin somewhere to hold our own bit of “liberated” soil from the institutional enemy of Earth and mankind. Every time we create another registered institution to fight the monster we actually feed it.
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Judy Kim said:
“Let us give with joy from the well of our sorrow. Let us give without expecting anything in return. Such is the true nature of giving as Mother Earth has taught us. She gives freely to each one of us—naughty and nice alike, deserving and undeserving. She asks only that we take care of her gifts.” I love this truth. The phrase, “well of joy and sorrow” is very beautiful, Rosaliene.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks, Judy 🙂 I struggled with putting my thoughts into words for this post and found inspiration in The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. When a woman asked the prophet to “Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow,” he answered: “Your joy is your sorrow unmasked… [The two] are inseparable.”
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Judy Kim said:
You’re welcome, Rosaliene. The quote from Gibran is wonderful, I like how it inspired your phrase.
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Robert A. Vella said:
Great editorial. There will be no Christmas tree in my house this year and I’m not planning to spend any money on gifts either.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
It takes courage and conviction, my friend, to go against the grain. As I mentioned in my comments to Kathryn, poet and blogger at A Thousand Bits of Paper, I got a negative response for my decision to stop exchanging gifts with my family and relatives. I gave away my Christmas tree, ornaments, and other decorations several years ago to Goodwill.
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Yeah, Another Blogger said:
There are SO many people on this planet, the demands for food and water are unsustainable probably.
Overpopulation is an incredible problem. It’s a driving force for much of humanity’s woes. The more people that there are, the more waste and pollution and greenhouse gases that are produced.
Hi Rosaliene. Bye till next time.
Neil Scheinin
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Neil, thanks for dropping by 🙂 I agree that “overpopulation is an incredible problem.” Tell people not to have children and they think you’re being selfish and heartless.
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ashiftinconsciousness said:
Beautiful post. We can tell everyone how we feel and hope more people understand and are inspired to change their ways.
Thank you.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
I agree, Shift. Also, there will always be those individuals who will disagree with our stand.
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ashiftinconsciousness said:
Hopefully, those people become a minority before we reach the point at which our efforts become useless.
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derrickjknight said:
This is such a profound post, Rosaliene.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks very much, Derrick 🙂
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cath said:
Beautifully put, Rosalie.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks, Cath 🙂
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stuartbramhall said:
My sense, Rosaliene, is the climate emergency has achieved minimal cut-through to the US working class. It seems to me many climate activists have difficulty acknowledging the US has a working class – clearly this would be an important first step.
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Kreb said:
I cosign.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks for dropping by, Kreb 🙂
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m.caimbeul said:
As I trust we all know, the majority of holidays were created by the merchant machine and prey on family. Fortunately I never got caught up in them but I can see where old habits, traditions and a sense of obligation trap people. But we are drowning in our wast and corporate greed and a social structure that perpetuates and facilitates it’s continuation. Sha’s Boycott thought taken to a mass extreme could work, it could have a radical effect on lifestyle changes. I see those changes happening when there’s no other options and that time is coming.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Indeed, Mike, the “merchant machine” has created most of our holiday traditions. Starting new traditions take time that we don’t have. But, as you rightly point out, the time is coming when there will be no other options.
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Denzil said:
Well said Rosaliene.
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beautifulbarbadosblog said:
Could be we feel that we’ll adapt. Mankind always has, so why worry? The generation that will be facing the brunt of it will have to deal with it. Etc. &c
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Indeed. The arrogance of our species in believing ourselves gods with power over Mother Nature will no doubt be our undoing.
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beautifulbarbadosblog said:
Quite true. But Mother Nature knows her true children and like any good mother will look out for them. 🙂 Probably what the others are banking on. It wont be they who “survive/adapt”. Thanks for your post. Awareness is preparedness…
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Pallavi said:
I like the parallel you have drawn between Santa Clause and Mother Nature. The boundless giving needs to be reciprocated. Thank you for continuing to write on this and bringing awareness
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Glad you dropped by, Pallavi 🙂
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InspirationCanComeFromAnywhere said:
Its is quiet heartbreaking to see the collective denial but people are opening their eyes little by little.companies are becoming more green friendly and people are picking up plastics and saying no to it.A lot of environment groups are very active.Lets hope more and more people open themselves to the reality sooner.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
It’s also my hope. Thanks for dropping by 🙂
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DutchIl said:
Thank you for sharing!!.. there are many ways of giving without having to deal with “Black Friday”.. 🙂
Until we meet again..
May your wishes come true
Your spirit know only peace
Your heart know only love and
Your life’s journey know only happiness
(Larry “Dutch” Woller)
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Dutch, I appreciate the many ways you give to our communities in need. Thanks for your kind wishes ❤
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Henry Lewis said:
A much needed message during this holiday season Rosaliene! We must wean ourselves off the desire to constantly consume. This will require no small degree of brain rewiring as well as a complete restructuring of our current economic model. Obviously, the first major obstacle is convincing the climate change deniers both within and outside government to change decades of misguided policy. While we can all make lifestyle changes on our own, we need bold collective action ASAP to offset the worst effects of global warming and climate chaos. Thanks for continuing to make your voice heard on this issue!
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Indeed, Henry, we need bold collective action. The climate crisis affects all life on Planet Earth. Thanks for sharing your thoughts 🙂
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JoAnna said:
I agree. The explosion of consumerism tends to drown out the true spirit of Christmas. I’m all about singing Christmas carols. Meeting neighbors in the park tomorrow for caroling.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
How wonderful, JoAnna! It’s been years since I last went caroling.
Today, my neighbors and I got together in our courtyard for our potluck Christmas party. Such a delight for me 🙂
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JoAnna said:
Your neighborly pot luck sounds like a wonderful tradition. I’m glad you were delighted! 🙂
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Pam Lazos said:
Yes, I do want to change the Christmas tradition of buying 💩 we don’t need, Rosaliene!
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Just do it!
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Pam Lazos said:
I know, right?!😂
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Shayleene MacReynolds said:
Love your words here. Beautiful and profound ❤
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks, Shayleene. Always happy to have you stop by ❤
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thetruthaboutmentalhealth said:
I often make stuff at Christmas: cards, chocolate balls and treats to give in gift bags to my family… partly because I enjoy making gifts but partly as a protest against the consumerist madness. Christmas is so far from the original tradition and what it was supposed to represent.. Every year I feel bewildered but take some joy in making things. Thanks for your wise post. So true as always.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
So happy to hear from you, Bernadette 🙂 There was a period in my life when I also made stuff to give to family and friends at Christmas. How our values have changed in humanity’s great urban centers!
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da-AL said:
I agree — I believe that more & more people are getting burned out by the old type of holiday season…
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
And if I may add, da-Al, weighed down with credit card debt in the New Year.
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Sunshiny SA, Kavitha said:
Loved your way with words on this Rosaliene.
Less commercial and more heart, should be the way forward. 🤗
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks very much, Kavitha!
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