Bah humbug. Go on, say it out loud. Try it out in a few different voices and inflections. It’s fun. Bah humbug is a fun phrase, no matter how you say it. It might even make you feel better. You don’t have to mean it in the classic way, as per Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. If it makes you feel better, then say it.
You don’t really hear that phrase much, except at this time of the year. There are many different things that you only hear and see between Halloween and New Year’s Day. Besides the obvious Christmas songs and movies, there are: lights, decorated yards, houses, trees. Shop windows all over the city get dressed up for the crowds, hoping to pull some poor shopper in and make a sale.
Some people hate the holiday season, for whatever reason. It is overly commercial, it can be difficult for people who have lost loved ones, or are not on good terms with their family. I understand this. I have mostly fond memories of holidays, but there are painful ones as well. My husband was diagnosed with cancer on Dec. 26, 2002. He didn’t live to see the decorations of 2003. Depression and suicide rates rise during the darkest part of the year. The nights get longer through the end of December, and the days are often overcast, even if it isn’t raining or snowing. Once the freshness of new fallen snow wears off, the piles of it that have been cleared off the street are gray and dirty.
What better time of year is there to decorate everything festively? Despite the over-commercialization of the ‘holiday season,’ be it Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or (yes, the biggest culprit) Christmas, it really can be a positive, happy time. People have been dressing their houses or halls for many different reasons since the beginning of time. Hang a garland, light a candle, put out your favorite sparkly ornaments – it improves the atmosphere of the room. Improved atmosphere helps improve the mind and spirit.
People gather together for celebrations. They don’t always have to have a reason; they find one. Of course, this is always true, but especially at this time of year. Getting together with family, friends, even co-workers, provides something that everyone needs at least a little: a sense of belonging, of community. Being around people you care about, and who care about you, promotes well-being.
If there are hard feelings between family members, now is a brilliant time to patch up the problem; next year may be too late. Remember to celebrate lives that are no longer with you. Remember a disaster story from a past season – the burnt turkey, the tree that fell over, the embarrassing gift, the drunk relative (yes, even if it was you) – it may not have been funny then, but chances are, you can laugh about it now. No, I’ve never burnt a turkey, but you understand what I mean. Laughter is good. It keeps you young and energetic.
When the mind, spirit and body are healthy and happy, everyone benefits. People are friendlier, and more caring to others, when they themselves feel good. By acknowledging that the trimmings of the season are meant to provide light in darkness, hope for the future, and a feeling of joy, wonder and fun, you can be free to just relax and enjoy it.
As the sun sets earlier and earlier, we, as people, need to find ways to keep the light in our lives. Be it candles, strings of twinkling lights, or the effervescence of favorite people around us, the glow is a valuable tool for getting through the winter months. Just because singing carols and watching It’s a Wonderful Life (again) is enjoyable for me, it may not be your cup of tea. Find a different blend.
Sure, I’ll complain about the cold and the weather. I can’t do anything about it. I can’t do anything about the amount of commercials bombarding TV, radio and newspapers which try to get me to buy something for everyone I know. I can, however, enjoy the little things that improve my attitude. I love the lights, the music, the movies, the parties and the food. They make me feel good. So if saying bah humbug makes you feel better, go for it, and while you are at it, find a way to make someone else feel better, too. Give a piece of your light to someone who doesn’t have enough. Making someone else happy is a good way to feel better about yourself. Everyone needs that.