The Traditions of Christmas
Christmas is such an enchanting time of the year. In our home the season begins just after Thanksgiving when the house is magically transformed with boughs of greens and holly. When we were young my Mother would turn a rectangular mirror into a skating rink with the addition of rolled cotton batting and a few small antique skating figures. A white antique bowl assumed an elegant air tied with a red statin ribbon and red Christmas balls. The sweet odors of baking cookies, sweet rolls and fruitcakes seemed to be endlessly wafting through the house.
When we were growing up we drove into the country and hiked through the snow until we found a tree. Then with a nod from my Mother, a tree was selected. Our Father would caution us to stand back with a wave of his gloved hands, and then raise his ax to down the tree. How we miss those days. Now we often purchase a tree from the Rotary in Gilford. It is lovely feeling the camaraderie of the people who volunteer to sell the trees.
Decorating the houses usually involves lots of shopping: candles, rolls of ribbon, poinsettia’s, tape, the proper scissors, stamps and lots and lots of wrapping paper.
We have our favorite Christmas books. One is Tasha Tudor’s Take Joy, published in 1966. Another is a collection of Charles Dickens’ Christmas stories. There is a book of Christmas poems and of course, the Bible.
Each Christmas I read O’Henry ‘s charming story, “The Gift of the Magi.” Della only has $1.87 to buy her husband, Jim, a Christmas present. She sells her beautiful long hair for $20 and buys a a “platinum watch-chain simple and chaste in design, properly proclaiming its value by substance alone and not by meretricious ornamentation – as all good things should do.”
Jim, wanting to find a special gift for Della, sells his father’s gold watch so he can buy her “beautiful combs, pure tortoise shell, with jeweled rims – just the shade to wear in the vanished hair.” Of course on Christmas morning they realize the watch has been sold and the hair has been cut off.
“…The Magi, as you know, were wise men – wonderfully wise men – who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents.”
Gathering to enjoy our Christmas stockings on Christmas morning is one of our favorite moments of the day. Now we draw names and have the responsibility for figuring out who can come up with the most creative gifts that are small enough to fit in the stocking and still bring a smile.
Every family has their own holiday traditions. We are fortunate that in one way or another, however simple or elaborate, we can all take time during December to think of others and to reflect on the year; to decorate our homes, even if we add just a candle or a holiday plant. The stores are filled with lovely gifts set out in creative and colorful displays and welcoming cheer. The churches and schools are alive with glorious music and there is a sense of hope and beauty in the air.
Dashing thro’ the snow in a one horse open sleigh;
O’er the fields we go, laughing all the way;
Bells on bob-tail ring making spirits bright;
What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way ….
From: Jingle Bells, J.S. Pierpont, 1857