Categories: uncategorized
Date: 19 November 2006 09:55:19
Tuesday 21st Nov is No Music Day
Saturday 25th is Buy Nothing Day
These are not compulsory days, but rather days where people are being encouraged to stop doing part of their normal activity in order to reflect on the nature and purpose of the activity. As both make clear the idea of these is not to stop people doing things but to get them to think about if it would be a good idea to start doing things differently.
It is interesting that both days have been chosen, by secular groups, in order to help us get back to celebrating religious festivals.
Tuesday has been chosen because it is the day before St. Cecilia's day and St. Cecilia is the patron saint of music and on 22nd November many countries chose to give thanks for music. For us to give thanks properly, we need to understand the significance of something.
Saturday is Buy Nothing Day because it has been shown that the last Saturday in November is when consumerism reaches its peak due to the way we now regard / treat Christmas as a consumer festival. The website says that: "This year our message is simple, shop less - live more! The challenge is to try simple living for a day, spend time with family and friends, rather than spend money on them".
I see that as very much a step in getting back to the real Christmas.
So will I be observing - well Tuesday I intend to try, Saturday will be impractical for me but I may try on Sunday.