This is another in the seemingly endless series of re-runs I foist upon you each December. The reason for the riptide of warmed-over Yuletide pieces isn't because I think everything I've ever written concerning Christmas or Christmastime activities is amazingly good. While that part of me that isn't Id certainly gets fluffed by the annual response to some of them, even an egomaniac like me realizes that they aren't all gems. Basically, I just like taking most of the month off. In this instance, however, not only am I being as much of a slug-a-bed as I have a tendency to be, I'm not even re-running something of my own!
The following bit of brilliance comes from the pen of my swell pal, Cricket. He really is amazing. Not only is he a fantastic writer, but he's also a tremendous whimsical cartoonist. In addition, he plays a mean guitar. All of these things I envy greatly. I mean, sure, I write, I play bass, I draw (a check each week) but I think he outshines me in every one of those endeavors. I'm seriously thinking of having him bumped off.
In the meantime, check this out. Click to enlarge, of course.
This cartoon is especially meaningful to me and MY WIFE. We've been exchanging gifts on Epiphany (or 'Little Christmas', as it's known in some circles) for many years now. It really is a way to make the whole season a bit less stressful, allowing us to concentrate our December 25th energies toward making other folk's celebrations brighter and more meaningful, while not shortchanging our own spiritual enjoyment. You might like to give some thought to doing something similar. As Cricket notes, it's a decent blow to strike for making the holiday of Christmas less of a greedfest and more of what it may need to be for your pleasure to be maximized.
Anyway, I love this cartoon. And you should go visit the artist NOW. His words are, if anything, even better. You'll want to read them while there's still time to do so. Once he figures out how to put some of his guitar playing on the web, I'll be viciously jealous and sending out the hitmen to do him in.
Soon, with more stuff.
(As a matter of fact, I'll actually have something NEW for you tomorrow. I hope the shock won't croak you.)
21 comments:
Or do like Mr. Jazz and I and don't exchange gifts just because it's expected of you. Do it whenever you feel like it during the year.
Wait...
What?
NEW???
Damn.
- Jazz
I'm all for it, but unfortunately I think even if people started doing this in mass, retailers would adjust the timing of the sales.
I truly appreciate Epiphany because it gives me a great excuse for not getting my Christmas shopping done on time.
Cricket IS an artiste. I remember the 'toon well.
I'm glad you still like the cartoon. Of course, you may remember I drew the original in 1995. I changed the dates a couple of times in between for extra mileage. Even so, I'm not so sure anymore. I haven't seen a blowout clearance sale in a few years. I think those are going the way of the dodo, at least at the big stores.
Perhaps an update is in order for next year?
Epiphany is truly the 'Forgotten Holiday', ain't it? (And yeah - nicely done, Cricket!)
I'm with BBL, at least this much - I do appreciate the extra 12 days afforded us to get our Christmas cards out. . . ;)
Boy! When you flog another blog, you do it up righteous.
And, you're right. He is a grand artist.
BTW - did you realize that if we get everyone moved over to Little Christmas, Thanksgiving will no longer come first?
Jazz - Yup. New. It was something too good for me to remain totally slothified.
Lisa - They might adjust, that's true. But it will take them a while. Shhhhhhhh!
Boom Boom - Exactly. Anything that gives me an excuse to procrastinate is my buddy.
Cricket - Thanks once again for giving me permission to re-post this. I was going to mention something about the '2010' date given, but I figured my readers (and yours) are intelligent enough to know the actual time. If you do an update next year, I'll be delighted (whether it runs here or at your place.)
Craig - I know your feelings on the matter, what with Advent being so important to you. I, too, prefer the added time for non-hurried reflection.
Uncle Skip - Leave it to you to throw a half-dozen flies in my joyous ointment. I think I still like you anyway :-)
Little Christmas, Big Christmas ... I feel sure there should be a Middle Christmas .. but I do like your and MY WIFE's (you know, that is awkward, she isnt MY WIFE, she's YOUR WIFE..but you knew that) exchange of gift ritual.
Daryl - I'm going to go all pedantic here, for the benefit of those who don't know, so excuse me if you already have this knowledge.
The days from December 25th, until January 6th, are the "12 Days Of Christmas" fabled in song for over-the-top gifting. Some folks (I'd venture most, actually) think that the song refers to 12 days leading up to December 25th, but that's a misconception. So, those days would qualify, I suppose, as "Middle Christmas"!
(Somewhat akin to the eight nights of Chanukah, perhaps, except we're silly goys, so we add on another 50% because we get our holidays retail.)
I'm just happy we don't celebrate the 12 days of Thanksgiving. Who could handle that much food?
I don't know, IT. The leftovers almost stretch that far at our place...
Dang, some people get all the talent! But at least the rest of us get to enjoy it. And I like the idea of waiting to exchange gifts with my husband on Jan. 6. Thanks to both of you!
Grandma Skip and I spent 12 days celebrating Thanksgiving. We have no difficulties whatsoever... except for no Internet, which isn't exactly a bad thing.
That is very cool...he is talented and since I am a new reader of both of you I have never seen this...I like this idea...I like the idea of less greed and thinking more about goodwill towards others...not telling the retailers is key because of course they would just prolong the commercial slide.
A re-post worthy of re-posting! Epiphany has been something I've known, from being neighbors to people who celebrated it while I was young. Sad state of affairs that the "C" in Christmas stands for "commercialism" too much nowadays.
I'll make sure to take my heart medication for the shock of your brand-new spanking post tomorrow.
They're only re-runs if you've seen them before.
What a great idea...I have never heard of this. Giving gifts on the Epiphany huh? Hmmm!
I usually give all year long as well!
I see something that I know someone will love and I get it. I don't hold on to it...I give it right away. Ha!!
Hugs
SueAnn
love his cartoon and the idea...convincing the folks around me might be a bit more challenging though...
Great idea, at least for us empty-nesters who don't have children expecting Santa to come on Christmas Eve. It takes us about till Epiphany to recover from Christmas.
Financially, though, we just start to recover from Christmas and then it's tax time.
One of the best gifts you've ever given, aside from your own gift of words and humoUr, was the introduction of Cricket (The Blogger Formerly Known as Donatello). His reposts and yours are always worth the trip back.
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