You can suppose that I have to reimagine some of my beloved traditions living in Korea. But part of what helped me bring most of my authentic Christmas here was insisting Hyeyeon and I go back to Canada the very first Christmas of our marriage. In 2009, we were married in my parents' backyard in July before going back to Korea (a rushed affair that we decided on a week before we were to go home and which was lauded by all 50 or so who attended in polos and other less than formalwear as one of the best weddings ever. We then had a more formal and huge invite-everyone-you-ever-met-in-your-life Korean wedding that October.) You can guess that for a young couple with no money, flights to Canada plus six weeks of living holiday-style in that expensive place left us in a hole, albeit worth it. Nonetheless, I said, "If you're gonna be my wife, you must understand Christmas." I explained how the mood of goodwill and general delight surrounding Christmas is incommunicable and must be experienced. And because it is so important to me (it is my holiday of appreciation moreso than Thanksgiving), just kind of supporting me in celebrating the season while not fully getting it was intolerable. Well, we went back that December 2009, and she has become almost as big an "Elf" as I am.
We just did our cermonial tree decorating last night. We took the Sunday to do most of the house and the foundations of the tree, but yesterday was Dec. 1 (I simply can't get into it with a November on the board), and we took over an hour to put up all the special ornaments we've collected from trips, events, and gifts from students and other friends over the years, remembering them all as we put each up. Christmas is fully on in this house! And I share it with a Korean woman who really knows what it's all about.
I also just finished my annual Fall semester Christmas unit, sharing the meaning and traditions with my students, inviting them to adopt more of it into their own lives and their future families. Santa Claus, material beauty, overindulgence, goodwill, appreciation, and keen enjoyment of life are not the exclusive province of any culture or religion, but are universal values that anyone can make their own. Korea does it superficially, with Starbucks having the music and seasonal drinks, department stores done up and other smaller shops trying to have a few token decorations and lights, which is fine. But no one gets it. No one can get it.
We'll be having our annual Christmas party in a few weeks, where foreigners come to feel some of home (which is the goal of it and which enhances my own normalcy), and some Korean friends get to experience something that has nothing close to an equal in any Korean tradition.
I have been promoting this thing over a couple decades in this country. But whether anyone else takes it up, I have it here with me. Thanks to Hyeyeon.
Happy Friendsgiving, Carrie-Ann, to you and Robert. And Merry Christmas!
I love how thoroughly you have swept up your dear wife in the Christmas holiday spirit, Matt! You are like the 25th person to mention "Elf," which we'll watch for the first time this year. (My favorite Christmas movie by far is A Christmas Story. I think I know every line, having watched it about forty times!) And Merry Christmas to you and Hyeyeon!
We love A Christmas Story. Our favorite now is The Man Who Invented Christmas, which is a dramatization of Charles Dickens writing A Christmas Carol. It's a fun way to enjoy a Christmas Carol without watching A Christmas Carol. Everyone is good, but the main actor is delightful. Great expressions and very charming, etc. The whole thing looks good, and is tightly written. Just a great movie.
I am admittedly not the biggest Elf fan, while it is my brothers' family's favorite, I think. I just used that as a kind of shorthand for being big into Christmas. But it is fun, worth a watch. Enjoy!
I've participated in this for such a long time that I forgot it wasn't the traditional way to experience Thanksgiving. (I suspect that Friendsgivings thrive in L.A., because, like Florida, it's a common destination for transplants.)
I am loving these personal essays, Carrie-Ann! Around the holidays, the focus is generally on traditions already established, so it's refreshing to read a story about establishing new ones. It made me think of an idea I had not too long ago that I may try to implement next year. "Galentine's Day" is another popular Thanksgiving riff, but I'd hate to leave my guy friends out so I'm thinking of doing "Palentine's Day" over the holiday season 😅 Too far out there of a concept, maybe? Great essay (and I'm so happy you're a fellow Floridian ☺️).
You can suppose that I have to reimagine some of my beloved traditions living in Korea. But part of what helped me bring most of my authentic Christmas here was insisting Hyeyeon and I go back to Canada the very first Christmas of our marriage. In 2009, we were married in my parents' backyard in July before going back to Korea (a rushed affair that we decided on a week before we were to go home and which was lauded by all 50 or so who attended in polos and other less than formalwear as one of the best weddings ever. We then had a more formal and huge invite-everyone-you-ever-met-in-your-life Korean wedding that October.) You can guess that for a young couple with no money, flights to Canada plus six weeks of living holiday-style in that expensive place left us in a hole, albeit worth it. Nonetheless, I said, "If you're gonna be my wife, you must understand Christmas." I explained how the mood of goodwill and general delight surrounding Christmas is incommunicable and must be experienced. And because it is so important to me (it is my holiday of appreciation moreso than Thanksgiving), just kind of supporting me in celebrating the season while not fully getting it was intolerable. Well, we went back that December 2009, and she has become almost as big an "Elf" as I am.
We just did our cermonial tree decorating last night. We took the Sunday to do most of the house and the foundations of the tree, but yesterday was Dec. 1 (I simply can't get into it with a November on the board), and we took over an hour to put up all the special ornaments we've collected from trips, events, and gifts from students and other friends over the years, remembering them all as we put each up. Christmas is fully on in this house! And I share it with a Korean woman who really knows what it's all about.
I also just finished my annual Fall semester Christmas unit, sharing the meaning and traditions with my students, inviting them to adopt more of it into their own lives and their future families. Santa Claus, material beauty, overindulgence, goodwill, appreciation, and keen enjoyment of life are not the exclusive province of any culture or religion, but are universal values that anyone can make their own. Korea does it superficially, with Starbucks having the music and seasonal drinks, department stores done up and other smaller shops trying to have a few token decorations and lights, which is fine. But no one gets it. No one can get it.
We'll be having our annual Christmas party in a few weeks, where foreigners come to feel some of home (which is the goal of it and which enhances my own normalcy), and some Korean friends get to experience something that has nothing close to an equal in any Korean tradition.
I have been promoting this thing over a couple decades in this country. But whether anyone else takes it up, I have it here with me. Thanks to Hyeyeon.
Happy Friendsgiving, Carrie-Ann, to you and Robert. And Merry Christmas!
I love how thoroughly you have swept up your dear wife in the Christmas holiday spirit, Matt! You are like the 25th person to mention "Elf," which we'll watch for the first time this year. (My favorite Christmas movie by far is A Christmas Story. I think I know every line, having watched it about forty times!) And Merry Christmas to you and Hyeyeon!
We love A Christmas Story. Our favorite now is The Man Who Invented Christmas, which is a dramatization of Charles Dickens writing A Christmas Carol. It's a fun way to enjoy a Christmas Carol without watching A Christmas Carol. Everyone is good, but the main actor is delightful. Great expressions and very charming, etc. The whole thing looks good, and is tightly written. Just a great movie.
I am admittedly not the biggest Elf fan, while it is my brothers' family's favorite, I think. I just used that as a kind of shorthand for being big into Christmas. But it is fun, worth a watch. Enjoy!
I've participated in this for such a long time that I forgot it wasn't the traditional way to experience Thanksgiving. (I suspect that Friendsgivings thrive in L.A., because, like Florida, it's a common destination for transplants.)
That's a good demographic point, Mike. I wish that we lived close enough to do Friendsgiving together!
I am loving these personal essays, Carrie-Ann! Around the holidays, the focus is generally on traditions already established, so it's refreshing to read a story about establishing new ones. It made me think of an idea I had not too long ago that I may try to implement next year. "Galentine's Day" is another popular Thanksgiving riff, but I'd hate to leave my guy friends out so I'm thinking of doing "Palentine's Day" over the holiday season 😅 Too far out there of a concept, maybe? Great essay (and I'm so happy you're a fellow Floridian ☺️).
Thank you, Rebecca, for your lovely feedback! Palentine's Day sounds like a great idea, my fellow Floridian. :o)