Newswise — No matter our religious or cultural background, we have all felt pressured during the winter holiday season to frame a picture-perfect experience. Whether it is to serve a flawless Thanksgiving dinner, create a Martha Stewart-inspired festive home or to give or receive the perfect gift, it’s no wonder Americans feel a stressful frenzy ascending as the leaves continue to fall and the temperature drops.
In this economy, when so many face celebrating the holidays on a tight or non-existent budget, those anxious feelings may reach a fever pitch. Shawn Madison Krahmer, Ph.D., chair and associate professor of theology and religious studies at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, offers a different way to approach the season, advising us to focus on the central meaning of the holidays.
"Set aside the cultural expectations of spending the most and getting the best," Krahmer says. "If you are religious, the ideal would be to reflect on the core values of your faith. If you are not religious, think about the holidays you spent with family or loved ones when something spontaneous and wonderful happened. Both of these practices can lend deeper meaning to the occasion," she says.
Not surprisingly, Krahmer espouses a broad definition of family. "It is really about being with those we think of as kin, which can mean a traditional nuclear family, a group of cherished friends or a larger community," she says. "Gathering together on an important occasion creates a special communal bond that makes a lasting impression on everyone involved."
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