I am sure that you have noticed how prominent and important food is in our various celebrations. Easter is about chocolate and the Easter Bunny and roasted pig (ham or pork). Thanksgiving features the poor turkey who is enslaved, mistreated, killed and roasted and a la Kinged to the tune of 19 million in the US and 5 million here in Canada. And then there is Xmas. More turkeys are sacrificed along with all the other usual suspects – Cornish Hens, Roasted Cow and Pig, to name a few. Apart from our dead nonhuman animal centerpieces, we also use massive (and I mean massive) quantities of butter, eggs, cheese and cream in our desserts, mashed potatoes and sweet potato pies, as well as aquatic animals and seafood in our appetizers.
Farmed CowsPiglet, Alone and Afraid
If we were to sit down and do the numbers, we might think twice about the cost to nonhuman beings. There is a reason why 75 billion (that is right, I said billion) nonhuman beings are enslaved (raised) worldwide each year to satisfy our need to satisfy our long held meat eating traditions.
Heart disease, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, cancer, mass extinction of species, and destruction of the planet aside, it must be noted the the greatest impact of all is to the nonhuman beings who are enslaved, cruelly treated and then murdered. For they are deprived of their inherent right to live according to their own purposes, to be with and to love their families, to be treated without cruelty and to die when they are old.
Even before I became vegan, I felt that all of our celebrations were too heavily slanted toward what we are going to eat, rather than what we are going to do. I would suggest that we go for a walk to look at Xmas lights in the winter when the snow is lightly falling and the sound of our boots hitting the snow makes that crunchy, squeaky sound. Or how about playing in the park in the spring at Easter time when the grass is not quite green and the buds are just coming out on the trees?
Party PrepXmas Goodies
Having said that, I found myself, once again involved in looking at recipes and wringing my hands over what I am going to serve to my guests at our upcoming Xmas party and what we, as a family are going to eat on Xmas Eve and Xmas Day. In the middle of my tizzy, I decided that I would order some food and support plant based establishments in and around Montreal. The moment I did that I felt a whole heck of a lot better. Because, nagging at me in the back of my mind, is my desire to go to Ontario to attend my granddaughter’s Xmas concert.
Now this concert, which means so much to my granddaughter, takes place two days before our Xmas party, at which we will attempt to cram 44 revelers into our not so big house. Granted, six of the guests are children, so they take up less space, but they do run around a lot more than the adults and this can make things a little hectic.
But I digress. If I am going to live according to my views about less concentration on the food and more on the people in my life, then I need to consider making the trip. This will involve an overnite stay at my daughter’s (always a pleasure). I will then rush (no speeding, though) back home on Friday to set up, to take frozen food out to thaw, to make the Appletinis ( a favorite beverage of mine), prepare any last minute food items and reorganize the furniture in the living and dining room.
Who am I kidding? I have already made my decision. Unless something goes terribly wrong in the execution of my party plans, I will be on the road Thursday morning with a happy heart and with the sound system belting out holiday tunes. My mother always used to say that she didn’t want to miss anything and I feel pretty much the same way. Besides, who can resist a little redheaded girl saying with hope,
My GranddaughterAre you coming to my Xmas Concert, Grammie? I am going to play the piano.
It is interesting to note that my granddaughter does not play the piano. I hope the teacher knows this. LOL!
People say that I am a good cook and I do take pride in this. I also realize that I have allowed myself to be overly identified with this skill. It is not who I am, it is something that I do. And people also say that I give a good party. And I guess this must be true, because almost everyone has replied Yes!!! I am sure that we will have a wonderful time. I keep telling myself that if I don’t finish everything on my list, then maybe my list is too long and grandiose.
There is a saying circulating on many of the vegan websites and social media that I follow. It goes like so.
Keep meat off the menu.
I would like to second that and add a caveat.
Keep food off the emotional menu.
Annie’s Vegan View
If we enjoy and are thankful for our food, yet place less emphasis on the importance of it in our long held traditions, then maybe we will see that eating nonhumans to preserve these cruel traditions is neither necessary nor okay.
Break out the Parcheesi Board and Pictionary. Play charades if that is your bag and sing off key to your favorite carols.
Think of those who suffer needlessly because of our learned and indoctrinated appetites.
Eat plant based this holiday season.
What a wonderful way to celebrate and embody “Peace on Earth”.
For they are deprived of their inherent right to live according to their own purposes, to be with and to love their families, to be treated without cruelty and to die when they are old.
Love this. Because who are we to lower their natural life expectancy? And perhaps most of all, who are we to steal their joy?
I like your suggestion that we focus on activities other than eating to celebrate the holidays, because eating (even if it’s vegan food) is still consuming or taking, and maybe we ought to get into the practice of trying to give that excludes taking as much as possible.
Enjoy the concert! And I wish you, yours, and all your readers, “Peas on Earth” this festive season. 😉
Hey Friend,
Peas on earth to you too. And thank you for all the support you have given me on my website. It is a pleasure to know you. One more post coming before Xmas and then I will be back in the New Year, ready to rumble for those who suffer needlessly for our wants, not needs.
Bye for now.
Anne
You are 100% correct. We spend way too much time worrying about the meal planning & especially at Christmas miss a lot of the fun stuff. It should be more about the family…..Thanks for reminding me. Have a wonderful Christmas Anne
Hi Judy,
Good to hear from you! I think of you every time I see some news about the massacre of dolphins and pilot whales at Taiji, which is every day. It is my most fervent wish that, one day, families of all species will be free to live their own lives and be with their families without interference from us.
In the meantime, let us all continue to do what we do raising awareness and advocating for change. If we all place more importance on just being with our families, then perhaps we will see that families of all species are the same and deserve the same rights and privileges.
Merry Christmas to you too!
Anne
Oh my goodness!!! And I thought I was busy! I’m late in wishing you safe travels and to enjoy your granddaughter’s concert, but I wish you both.
The same exact quote that Have Gone Vegan commented on struck me so much that I was going to quote it too. Too bad that regular folk aren’t allowed to add comments to sites like Brainy Quote (can’t remember the other ones off the top of my head) because “For they are deprived of their inherent right to live according to their own purposes, to be with and to love their families, to be treated without cruelty and to die when they are old.” in reference to being vegan is a really awesome quote!
I wish you and yours a lovely time together and I hope you can get some rest soon!
Hey Krissa,
Thanks so much for your support. Good to know that my words have meaning to others. Just gotta keep saying the same thing in as many ways possible until people listen and stop being complicit.
Just back from the concert. It was so much fun. My granddaughter loves performing. She is so enthusiastic.
I wish you a wonderful holiday too. I will be publishing one more post on Monday and then will take a break until after the New Year.
Take care,
Anne
Hey Anne
I totally agree with you and the other people who have commented on here about not putting so much emphasis on the food at Christmas or indeed any holiday and focusing our energies more on our loved ones. We waste so much time running around getting things ready, cooking and baking and so very often to excess. We need to give the lions share of our time to our friends and families. Life is short and making happy memories is what is most important I think.
I think you are right when you say we should focus on doing things together. When I was little I remember proper winters. My brother and sister and I used to make snowmen and go sledging and have snowball fights. We used to go to the park and see the Christmas tree and lights. I remember singing carols outside in the snow and having rosy cheeked fun. I do remember the unfortunate big turkey in the middle of the table but this memory just fills me with sadness now.
All animals deserve to be with their families at Christmas too. We have no right to take their lives from them at any time of year. How awesome it would be if everyone had a vegan Christmas. Just think of how many lives would be saved.
Christmas is about love not food and that includes all our brothers and sisters; the animals of course!!!
Hi Rachel,
Christmas is just around the corner and I do love preparing and presenting my own take on it. Traditions are what we find important, not what others found important. And for me, taking care of and respecting all living, sentient beings on this planet is very important to, as I see it is to you.
Take care.
Anne
For they are deprived of their inherent right to live according to their own purposes, to be with and to love their families, to be treated without cruelty and to die when they are old.
Love this. Because who are we to lower their natural life expectancy? And perhaps most of all, who are we to steal their joy?
I like your suggestion that we focus on activities other than eating to celebrate the holidays, because eating (even if it’s vegan food) is still consuming or taking, and maybe we ought to get into the practice of trying to give that excludes taking as much as possible.
Enjoy the concert! And I wish you, yours, and all your readers, “Peas on Earth” this festive season. 😉
Hey Friend,
Peas on earth to you too. And thank you for all the support you have given me on my website. It is a pleasure to know you. One more post coming before Xmas and then I will be back in the New Year, ready to rumble for those who suffer needlessly for our wants, not needs.
Bye for now.
Anne
You are 100% correct. We spend way too much time worrying about the meal planning & especially at Christmas miss a lot of the fun stuff. It should be more about the family…..Thanks for reminding me. Have a wonderful Christmas Anne
Hi Judy,
Good to hear from you! I think of you every time I see some news about the massacre of dolphins and pilot whales at Taiji, which is every day. It is my most fervent wish that, one day, families of all species will be free to live their own lives and be with their families without interference from us.
In the meantime, let us all continue to do what we do raising awareness and advocating for change. If we all place more importance on just being with our families, then perhaps we will see that families of all species are the same and deserve the same rights and privileges.
Merry Christmas to you too!
Anne
Oh my goodness!!! And I thought I was busy! I’m late in wishing you safe travels and to enjoy your granddaughter’s concert, but I wish you both.
The same exact quote that Have Gone Vegan commented on struck me so much that I was going to quote it too. Too bad that regular folk aren’t allowed to add comments to sites like Brainy Quote (can’t remember the other ones off the top of my head) because “For they are deprived of their inherent right to live according to their own purposes, to be with and to love their families, to be treated without cruelty and to die when they are old.” in reference to being vegan is a really awesome quote!
I wish you and yours a lovely time together and I hope you can get some rest soon!
Hey Krissa,
Thanks so much for your support. Good to know that my words have meaning to others. Just gotta keep saying the same thing in as many ways possible until people listen and stop being complicit.
Just back from the concert. It was so much fun. My granddaughter loves performing. She is so enthusiastic.
I wish you a wonderful holiday too. I will be publishing one more post on Monday and then will take a break until after the New Year.
Take care,
Anne
Hey Anne
I totally agree with you and the other people who have commented on here about not putting so much emphasis on the food at Christmas or indeed any holiday and focusing our energies more on our loved ones. We waste so much time running around getting things ready, cooking and baking and so very often to excess. We need to give the lions share of our time to our friends and families. Life is short and making happy memories is what is most important I think.
I think you are right when you say we should focus on doing things together. When I was little I remember proper winters. My brother and sister and I used to make snowmen and go sledging and have snowball fights. We used to go to the park and see the Christmas tree and lights. I remember singing carols outside in the snow and having rosy cheeked fun. I do remember the unfortunate big turkey in the middle of the table but this memory just fills me with sadness now.
All animals deserve to be with their families at Christmas too. We have no right to take their lives from them at any time of year. How awesome it would be if everyone had a vegan Christmas. Just think of how many lives would be saved.
Christmas is about love not food and that includes all our brothers and sisters; the animals of course!!!
Take care
Rachel
Hi Rachel,
Christmas is just around the corner and I do love preparing and presenting my own take on it. Traditions are what we find important, not what others found important. And for me, taking care of and respecting all living, sentient beings on this planet is very important to, as I see it is to you.
Take care.
Anne