12.21.07
Posted in Christmas, Opinion at 12:40 am by Administrator
At “holiday” time, like most people, I receive greeting cards. In recent years, I have noticed a change from the usual “Merry Christmas,” to an all-encompassing greeting: “Happy Holidays!” That is fine, as far as it goes. In the interest of inclusion, I have been guilty of writing that myself. However, Christmas, which is the commemoration of the birth of Christ, is the main (December) holiday I personally celebrate each year. I have no problem wishing my Jewish friends and relatives, “Happy Chanukah!” If I personally knew anyone of the Muslim faith, I would say, “Happy Ramadan!” If I were aware that someone is an atheist, I’d avoid any mention of any winter holiday with a religious bent.
Since I profess to be a Christian, I enjoy hearing the greeting, “Merry Christmas!” Without those words, some of the meaning of the event is lost.
You know, I get tired of the hype. Now, we are supposed to call a Christmas tree by another name: a “Holiday tree.” In some places, there is an ongoing debate over the appropriateness of Nativity scenes in public areas. I suppose we don’t have “Christmas plays,” or “Christmas concerts” at schools any more, or do we? It’s been a long time since I’ve had a youngster in school.
I, for one, am here to tell you that I’ll make no apologies for celebrating Christmas, for singing Christmas carols, for giving Christmas presents, for eating Christmas Stollen, for sending Christmas cards, or for loving to collect Christmas ornaments. I’ll sit by the Christmas tree and eat my Christmas cookies, and watch a re-run of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” a sappy but favorite Christmas movie. In spite of having no visitors on Christmas Day, I’ll be content to read the original Christmas story, and later have a Christmas dinner.
You see, Christmas is my holiday, and at the center of all the celebration, and even after all the tinsel is gone, is Christ. There has never been a man so important that TIME itself was divided because of him: B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (After Christ), although some people have even tried to alter that basic and easily understood delineation and convert the letters into another acronym.
So, for those of you with other holidays, I would imagine that my Christmas joy should not offend you, any more than your religion-associated events offend me, which is not at all. For those for whom Christmas is only a shopping event, you have my pity, as you’ve missed the point. However, I say, live and let live. I also say, “Merry Christmas!” Enjoy the season!
Patricia Cummings
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12.20.07
Posted in Musings, Christmas at 4:33 am by Administrator
There is something to like about tradition. This year, I will make Stollen, something that was always an annual endeavor of my late mother, and her mother before her. Stollen is an Austrian sweet bread, made with yeast, and it has candied pineapple, candied cherries, and citron. When all is said and done, it is drizzled with white icing to make the most delectable treat on the planet. I can gain five pounds, just looking at the tasty bread. The recipe makes two loaves, enough to satisfy any sweet cravings for awhile.
Having a Christmas tree is another family tradition. One year, we had no tree, by choice. That was a very dismal holiday season, indeed. I find that I enjoy the bright lights. They are cheerful and they warm my heart from the outside in. I also enjoy re-visiting the ornaments each year, and remembering how I acquired each and every one of them.
When I think of Christmas, I can’t help but remember my favorite songs. Some of them are not all that old. Indeed, some were written within my lifetime. One that tops the list is “Christmas in the Trenches,” based on an actual historical war event (WWI) when for a few hours a truce was called and soldiers from both sides shared songs, cigarettes, and photos from home. After hearing the poignant song on a public broadcasting radio station, I looked for it for ages and finally found it on an album CD called, “Winter Solstice,” by composer, John McCutcheon.
I feel inexplicably happy this Christmas time. I suppose one should not spend a lot of effort in reasoning why one is feeling good. After all, you wouldn’t want to put a hex on it. There is just a pervasive sense of hope right now. With coming political elections in the new year, all Americans are on the brink of change. A strong feeling exists that life, as we know it, will improve very soon.
Traditions provide an order to our lives. They provide a sense of continuity for children, and they also provide a way to regulate our daily lives within the ever more lengthy holiday season. Forget the twelve days of Christmas of the song! Today, Christmas stretches from October to January.
Whichever ways you choose to spend the holidays, I hope that you’ll reserve some quality time to be with family. As I look through photograph albums, sometimes I see myself in pictures and realize that I am the only one still living of the people portrayed there.
Life is fleeting, as I know only too well. We can never take others for granted. We pass this way once, and will never be here again. So, we make the most of every minute, as we should, and maximize the joy. Christmas and Hannukah are both times for family, and for celebration. Enjoy!
Patricia Cummings
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12.13.07
Posted in Christmas at 3:50 am by Administrator
In my collection of ephemera, there is a booklet entitled, “Christmas with Charles Dickens.” Undated, it is “foxed” with yellow age spots and has been in the family for as long as I can remember. It was produced by two women who owned a book selling business, one of whom was a friend of my mother. I’d like to share the “Prologue” with you. It is as follows:
Most of us like to think that the traditional holiday customs, such as the use of holly and mistletoe, yule logs, candles and the singing of Christmas carols have come down to us uninterruptedly from medieval times.
Ungilded history tells us otherwise. It required a mighty voice heard ’round the world to resurrect and preserve the hallowed observances which add so much richness to this most wonderful of seasons. The voice was that of Charles Dickens.
Then, the booklet explains that the writing is offered in print type that is 12 point Bodoni, spaced in the same manner as the original edition of “A Christmas Carol,” published in 1843.
The next page goes on to say that Dickens’ story did more for Christmas than for any other piece of literature ever written, save the Holy Bible. Continuing the discussion, a synopsis of the story is offered.
The booklet recounts the lesser-known Dickens’ stories, “Cricket on the Hearth,” and “Pickwick Papers.” What a delightful bit on writing these few pages offer, complete with wonderful illustrations! The cover of the booklet has a tasseled binding and a front cover that has an elegant pen and ink, colored drawing of a horse and coach, with a be-scarved trumpeter, standing on top of the conveyance.
This booklet was evidently a product that was printed to be given away for the purpose of promoting this particular business. What charm, what elegance, what class!
The epilogue of the small booklet reminds us to live each day as we do during the Christmas season, “governed by the spirit of Christian charity, which is the spirit of Christmas itself.”
Dickens singlehandedly took on the Puritans who had formerly banned the celebration of Christmas in any non-religious way. That included feasting, closing shops, or lighting Yule candles. Dickens transformed the holiday into a happy time of sharing. In the words of Dickens’ small character, Tiny Tim, “God Bless Us, Everyone!”
Patricia Cummings
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