Silent night.

 

If I said that Christmas doesn't mean anything to me, it would be a total lie and I don't like lying. People have been celebrating Christmas for centuries, but as time went by it has become more mainstream than a hipster in the most underground club in Helsinki. I was born in Russia and the meaning of celebrating Christmas there is slightly different - it's all about believing in God and going to church on the Christmas day. Christmas has become a really commercial event across the world and people have already forgot the true meaning of what Christmas actually once used to be.

I celebrated my first Christmas in Finland when I was 13 years old. We had a tree, food and presents. Back then, when I still believed in Jesus Christ, I wondered, why did I get presents if I didn't do anything superior this year? I'm used in getting presents on New Year's Eve, but that is because it's my birthday, so getting a present on a Christmas day surprised me. I have always enjoyed family dinners, there was just something special about them. We get together, have dinner, talk about how our year was and just laugh all about things.

Then it all changed. People started passing away, families growing apart - this is what it feels like to become an adult. When you're just a kid, you pretend you don't care about these things, you just want to eat and get presents and enjoy being a kid. Once you grow up, things change.

I stopped believing in Jesus Christ when I was 19 years old. Ever since Christmas hasn't really mattered to me. It has become this mainstream event when people spend money on useless presents to prove that they love their families by buying expensive things and trying to impress other family members with those material things.

I actually enjoy working on Christmas. It's not that busy and the salary is good, plus, you don't have to deal with Christmas.

I stopped buying presents years ago, because I just can't stand all the madness about presents, I don't want to waste energy on shopping and I don't want to prove people I love them by giving them expensive (or cheap) presents or money.

I don't want this to come out as cynical or patriotic, but I think that there are a few countries left in the world who still get the meaning of Christmas - spending time with your family (even if you don't enjoy it haha) and praise Jesus Christ for dying for our sins.

What am I going to do this Christmas? Eat, sleep, spend time with my family and friends. And I haven't bought a single gift. Because, once again, it's not about the gifts. It's not about the money. It's not about showing people yourself off.

There are people who spend Christmas alone, because they don't have anybody and I love spending time with these people because we can really appreciate the meaning of Christmas. Spend it with the loved ones.

Merry Christmas! x