Well it’s December, which means it is Christmastime again! Actually according to most stores and radio stations, it’s been Christmastime since October….but that’s beside the point. It’s that time of year where we celebrate the past year and look forward to the one upcoming. We spend time with family and friends in our tacky sweaters, put up trees, light the lights, deck the halls, and all that fun stuff. Emotions run high, from stressing about gifts and travels, to rest and relaxation, and for children that all too familiar anxiousness that comes with Christmas Eve.
I love the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Maybe that’s weird, but I enjoy going out with the crowds and observing what’s going on. Seeing all the lights and listening to Christmas music….as long as it is good (I’m looking at you Justin Bieber, Jonas Brothers, the little girl who wants a hippo for Christmas, and Dominick the Donkey….). Bundling up and wandering out, getting a warm beverage and taking it all in always brings a smile to my face. Also the gift giving…I’ve always enjoyed giving gifts. Finding that one perfect gift for someone and then seeing their reaction when opening it. That’s one of the best feelings ever!
Perhaps my favorite thing about Christmas is the different traditions that people have. Some people have a big dinner on Christmas Day; some people have a routine of travel that takes all day long. One of my ex-girlfriends’ family always went to the movies on Christmas Day. Traditions do however have a way of changing. As far back as I can remember, we would get up on Christmas morning and see what Santa had brought, spend a little while playing with our stuff, then we would get dressed and make the 30 minute drive out to Grandma’s house in Spring Hope, where we would have a big meal and then open presents with my dad’s side of the family. (We would always spend Christmas Eve with my mom’s side) As the years went on things changed. Grandma had a stroke, and we would shift over to my uncle’s house on Christmas Day. After Grandma passed away the traditions changed again to what they are today.
Now it’s no secret that my brother absolutely loves Christmas, and every year he would make a deal with mom and dad about what time we would get up on Christmas morning. Christmas Eve has a candlelight service at my parents church, and then my moms’ side of the family comes over and we have finger foods (including mom’s amazing taco dip), and we exchange gifts with them. After that “It’s A Wonderful Life” is on and we usually catch the last half of that (to this day, I’ve only seen it from beginning to end once – when we showed an original print from the Capra family at UNCW). Josh and I would then go to bed with whatever Christmas specials on TV…and later it would be the 24 hours of “A Christmas Story.” One of us would always be awake, and we would usually get together in one of our rooms and speculate about the following morning until we fell asleep. Once we woke up, we would get mom and dad up….but we were not allowed to go downstairs until mom and dad went down and saw what we got. (For a long time, Santa didn’t wrap presents…) Even now we still wait for mom and dad to go downstairs before we do….it’s kind of fun that way. After we do the gift exchange dad cooks a big breakfast complete with some of the best country sausage ever from Smith’s Red & White in Dortches, NC. Granny and James (my mom’s mother and step-father) come over and we have breakfast together, then after they leave Josh, dad, and I sit around watching TV and playing with our stuff while mom goes and takes a nap. And that’s Christmas for us.
Now I know there are a lot of people who celebrate Christmas, but do so under another name. So many people get offended that the holiday is called Christmas and has religious implications, but that’s what it started out as in one way or another. From the ancient Greeks celebrating Saturnalia, to people celebrating the winter solstice, to Christians celebrating the (observed) day of Jesus’ birth; the holiday has always had some sort of spiritual meaning, and has embraced many pagan traditions as well. The one thing that hasn’t changed over the years is the idea that it’s a time of togetherness and good cheer.
So whatever you celebrate, however you celebrate…I hope that it’s a good one. Here’s to you and yours this holiday season.
Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and may your traditions stay strong and true.
