vol. 10, num. 23 :: 2011.12.23 — 2012.01.05
While traditions can occur at any time of year, Christmas is a season that focuses this theme. What particularly meaningful rituals do you observe with family and friends each year, during Christmas or otherwise? And what about the particularly meaningless ones you perhaps wish would end?
Learning to believe again, via the story of St. Nicholas.
A parent's perspective on the man from the North Pole.
Or was it a mule? Perspectives on tradition.
Remembering the Christmas Eve celebrations of childhood.
Remembering terrible gift choices and why thoughtfulness matters.
A few words on a family tradition to help contextualize giving and receiving gifts.
Lessons in gift-giving from the greatest Gift of all.
A reflection on a father-son tradition.
Lars von Trier’s newest film takes on the meaning of ritual at the end of the world.
Reflecting on the films Melancholia and Another Earth as Christmas approaches.
A meditation on observing (and not observing) holiday traditions.
Memories and values emerge from a consideration of dessert as a child.
Will Braun writes about what his kids will not be learning in Sunday School.
Joy Carol Wallis critiques the sentimentalization of Christmas.
The editor of catapult speaks to the appropriate extravagance of gift-giving.
Even in a country you know by heart
its hard to go the same way twice
the life of the going changes.
The chances change and make a new way.
Any tree or stone or bird
can be the bud of a new direction. The
natural correction is to make intent
of accident. To get back before dark
is the art of going.
Wendell Berry
“Traveling at Home” from Traveling at Home
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