Hundred Dollar Holiday: The Case for a More Joyful Christmas

Hundred Dollar Holiday is a very good answer to folks who dread spending tons of money on Christmas gifts that often become dusty clutter in the recipient's house, or receive these gifts themselves. If you feel like this, you may not know exactly why you become a grinch at Christmas, but Bill McKibben elucidates it pretty well. He describes the history of Christmas and how it evolved to what it is now, and takes several approaches (practical, religious, environmental, economical) to describe what's wrong now and what could be changed to enjoy Christmas again. And he does it not aggressively or accusatory, but unassumingly and conversationally. If you find that your new (INSERT TECHNOLOGICAL ENTERTAINMENT DEVICE HERE) doesn't really add real happiness to your life, you may want to read this. The hard part is getting your traditional family to read it.

I liked this book. I really enjoyed reading about the history of Christmas, especially in the United States. Though I knew some hazy details, like the invention of Santa Claus as roly-poly from "The Night Before Christmas," I did not know that so many of our traditions are fairly recent. Since I already like Bill McKibben's book, THE COMFORTING WHIRLWIND: GOD, JOB, AND THE SCALE OF CREATION, I was well disposed for another book by him. Here, at the end of November, I am glad to have a renewed focus on Christmas in our cultural setting, so that I will choose how to participate, instead of merely falling into it and being carried along with the season.

This book is a call to reconsider our Christmas traditions, where they came from, and what we want from them. The book is extremely short, and can be read in only an hour or two, but the ideas in it are profound. McKibben begins by describing some of the details of how the American commercialization of Christmas came about in the early 1800s. At that time, wassailing was getting a bit out of hand, so some upper-class New Yorkers decided to reinvent the holiday around some more wholesome traditions of family celebrations and gift giving. As part of this movement, in 1818 Clement Moore brought St. Nicholas into the picture complete with reindeer on the roof with his famous "Twas the Night before Christmas". From there, the idea of centering the holiday on gift-giving grew and grew, much to the delight of department store owners, who were eager to add their own contributions to the holiday pantheon (such as Rudolph, courtesy Montgomery Wards). McKibben asks us "Are you having fun? Are you enjoying your family's holiday traditions?" Or do you find yourself stressed out with all the competitive shopping and endless wrapping? Do the holidays leave your credit cards maxed out? He reminds us that the tradition of massive gift-giving at Christmas time is only a very recent one in this country. If it's not fun, if it doesn't fill your life with wonder and holiday spirit, why continue with it all? Instead, McKibben suggests examining your own family traditions. Stop and think- -do you even remember what gifts you received for Christmas last year, or the Christmas before that? On the other hand, what elements of the Christmas celebrations of years past stand out most clearly in your memory? For most, it is the fellowship of friends and family, the wonderful foods, and the music. The exchange of gifts is certainly prominent, but it's often not the actual gifts that are important, but the anticipation, the surprise, the humor, and the unveiling of the gift in the loving presence of all one's family members. McKibben points out that we don't need to spend a lot of money and buy a lot of gifts to enjoy a memorable Christmas. Homemade gifts, gifts to charities, coupons for future services or shared meals together will serve the purpose of gift exchange just as well. It's the love that will make the holiday, not the price tag. As for those who feel that Christmas should be about fulfilling all of our children's material dreams, McKibben reminds us "...if we make that the center of the holiday, we help school [the children] in the notion that transcendent joy comes from things." The title of the book "Hundred Dollar Holiday" refers to the fact that $100 is the upper limit of what McKibben and his entire family spend on celebrating Christmas. He argues that by setting such a limit, it forces everyone in the family to be creative with their contributions to the holiday. The end result is a holiday season that doesn't feel rushed, but is fill

i pray that this book is not overlooked in the mad holiday shopping rush. that's exactly what it struggles against. to read mckibben's plan for a more peaceful and joyful holiday is like taking a warm bath--suddenly it all seems manageable again. my family and i will try to implement a variation of his plan (hundred dollar chanuka). i especially like the practical ideas, the how-to tips he gives for pulling it off.

There's a lot in this little book. Christmas is a time of celebration. It is a time of giving. We must steal it back and "selfishly" give. Mr. McKibben just asks one thing. Try to only spend approximately $100 on gifts. There is nothing "cheap" about this. It's a simple monetary limit on tension, selfishness & joylessness. It proposes that we give of our most valuable commodity--time. Make things, take kids to a museum or on a nature walk and give that extra cash you have to charity or church as a gift. Food and time are two of the greatest and most appreciated gifts. A great quote: "Market capitalism, if it is as rational as its proponents always insist, cannot actually depend for its strength on the absurdly lavish celebration of the birth of a man who told us to give away everything that we have." How true. Thanks Bill. You speak for many who want a true Christmas of family love, joyfulness and spirit back. p.s. He doesn't step on any toes--shop locally for presents if they are to be purchased he suggests. It keeps the local economy healthy and supports friends and family businesses that depend on Christmas for their income. Especially small bookstores where they know your face and maybe your name. Go pick up a copy now and make contact with a living human being. A true Christmas takes time--not money.