Simple Beauty

Americans spent more than three trillion dollars on Christmas in 2013, https://www.statista.com/topics/991/us-christmas-season/,  parents expect to spend $271 per child and one in ten plan to spend over $500 per child. Then the children play in the boxes. This does not include the cost of elaborate trees and outdoor decorations.

I live in a Mexican village that exists on servicing the expats who live here and some farm or fish. Most live on less than $500 per month and the average family size is four; however, the families I know personally have six family members.  Most people live in extended family units, which is the only way they can get by.

Last year I taught conversational English to a group of teens ranging in age from sixteen to twenty. As Christmas approached we talked about their traditions which centered around family. Their faces glowed as they talked about singing, dancing and eating tamales with their extended families.  And of course the piñata! Later they shared what they got for Christmas: a new pair of jeans or new shoes and that was it. But the happiness on their faces said that it was enough. Imagine if American parents gave so little but the children were so happy.

There is a little tienda where I buy milk, eggs, tortillas and so forth. One day the lady of the shop invited me to see their decorations.  The creche, Nativity scene, was large and placed in the most prominent place in the living area and this is what she wanted me to see. But the infant Jesus was not in the manger, he is placed there Christmas Eve Next she brought out a shoe box with a beautiful porcelain Jesus, carefully wrapped in soft cotton. She held him with such reverence, I was deeply touched.  By contrast, there was a small plastic tree, about 15” tall, on a small table. Not one gift was on display under the wee tree. The focus is on worship and not gift giving.

While many Americans like to state "Jesus is the reason for the season" their actions speak more for the worship of materialism and this is an empty promise. The Mexicans I know live this statement far more meaningfully.

Ajijic, Mexico

December 2018