Sometimes the true meaning of Christmas gets lost in the frenzied quest for the perfect gifts or giving the perfect party. But let me refresh your memory:
And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you this day is born in the City of Bethlehem, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men. - Luke 2:10
So, in the spirit of the Christmas season, let's make a list, check it twice, and share what Christmas means to us. Feel free to share your favorite family traditions, your secret Christmas present wish list, your favorite song, your favorite Christmas memory, or maybe your dreams and wishes for a brighter future.
And to get us started, let me be the first to say "MERRY CHRISTMAS"! There, I said it and I am not taking it back.
30 comments:
living in East Tennessee, I am amazed every day at how nice and helpful people are to each other every day.
Happy Kwanza, Bev. ;P
What does Christmas mean? What doesn't it?
Bev.....In an otherwise drab world (except for neon!) I have always loved that we "light" up our lives around Christmas. So much of the holiday spirit focuses on lights. Lights on houses (think the videos of house lights moving in time with Christmas music), lighting of the "official Christmas (sorry...Holiday) tree in DC, lights put on Christmas trees by family members (and the memories that go with putting the ornaments on), and finally the Advent lights in the weeks leading up to Christmas Mass.
So, Christmas has always meant lights (and songs, can't not mention the songs) to me, in addition to all the other meanings.
It truly is "the most wonderful time of the year!" (Andy Williams...in a Goldmember sotto voce aside)
It's getting better out there. People are living longer and healthier. I'm 60 years old and I remember kids in my elementary class dying from mumps and polio. One died from tetanus. Cars are far safer and run better and cleaner. Our rivers and air are cleaner, there are far more parks now than when I was a kid. isn't the internet marvelous? I read constantly as a kid, I was thrilled when we moved to downtown Memphis and the main library was only a block away. Now, all of that and more is at my fingertips. We haven't had major bloodlettings in Europe every twenty years or so such as they did before WWII and the Bomb. Look at the sheer variety of entertaintment available out there, not just in books; but on the radio, TV, and the internet. There's been an explosion of talent out there that would have never been seen when I was a kid...now everyone can showcase their talents..
Critch - Yes! That's what I'm talkin' about! Sometimes we get so bogged down in where we need to go, we forget how far we have come.
10J - There are just a lot of really nice people in the world, aren't there? Sadly, it's always the crackpots and cranky-pants's that get all the attention. I was on the elevator the other day where they have a news monitor (sometimes that is where I get my news!). I didn't see what went passed on the monitor, but a guy on the elevator said out loud that "It just seems like there is no longer any good left in the world."
All I could think of is that there are so many good humble people who do so many good things every single day without reward or fanfare (or making a spectacle of themselves). They just give freely and the reward is just knowing you might have made someone's day a little brighter.
Andrew - Kwanzaa is after Christmas, so they can just wait their turn...okay, that wasn't in the true spirit of Christmas...so sue me. Oh, wait you actually could sue me...nevermind! Hey, Andrew, over here! Here's a nice shiny bell for you to play with!
Patriot - I remember waaaay back before Carter was President that everyone put up Christmas lights and it was a big deal. Then Carter banned Christmas lights because of the energy crisis of the '70's and it has never been the same.
There was decorating the tree with the "old Christmas ornaments" and carefully placing the stockings my Grandmother made for each of us on the mantle with one for the dog. And never being able to get to sleep because of the anticipation of Santa sneaking into the house to leave presents and eat cookies (that sounds really creepy, doesn't it?) Ah, great memories...
CrisD - I have noticed that too, but I am not so sure it's not because my hair has gone gray. It's always jarring going back to Texas because teenagers there will hold the door open...willingly and with a smile! And everyone smiles and says "How can I help you?" in the stores. Then I come back to NYC and the dream ends...mostly.
Oooh, shiny! :D
Bev, In all seriousness, I love Christmas. This is the one time of year when most people try to act the way we know we should be acting all the time and it makes for a really happy, wonderful world.
Bev, There are just a lot of really nice people in the world, aren't there? Sadly, it's always the crackpots and cranky-pants's that get all the attention.... "It just seems like there is no longer any good left in the world." All I could think of is that there are so many good humble people who do so many good things every single day without reward or fanfare (or making a spectacle of themselves).
That is something people keep losing focus on because our 24-hour news cycle and the hate+adrenaline rush that resonates from the internet. People are losing their perspective because all they hear is rotten and meant to shock them. The world is a MUCH better place than people want to believe today. Everyone just needs to step back and look beyond the doomsday type and the hate-mongers. Don't let them drag you down in their misery. The world is a wonderful place.
Andrew,
"Everyone just needs to step back and look beyond the doomsday type and the hate-mongers. Don't let them drag you down in their misery. The world is a wonderful place."
It kind of makes you want to break into song...
Kit, That is perhaps the best ad the Discovery Channel has ever done. I actually had it on my old computer. What a great idea. :)
"That is perhaps the best ad the Discovery Channel has ever done."
Never gets old, huh?
"The pessimist is commonly spoken of as the man in revolt. He is not. Firstly, because it requires some cheerfulness to continue in revolt, and secondly, because pessimism appeals to the weaker side of everybody, and the pessimist, therefore, drives as roaring a trade as the publican. The person who is really in revolt is the optimist, who generally lives and dies in a desperate and suicidal effort to persuade all the other people how good they are." —G.K. Chesterton
So true. It is amazing how much people resist hearing how good things are and how good they can be.
And no, it never gets old. :)
To me, Christmas means thumping that guy with the bell and stealing his red bucket! Mwah-ha-ha-ha! Okay, not really.
I'm mainly in it for the cookies. And cocktail shrimp. And egg nog. And booze. Lots of booze.
The nice thing about being an All-American mutt is that I and my family can incorporate whatever traditions we like. That's how we end up eating pastrami sandwiches with lefse and sangria.
Tryanmax - I'm kinda' a mutt too. Latkes and Cornbread dressing. It's great because I can claim just about any religious holiday (especially ones that come with vacation days) as my own. As a matter of fact, I pretty much will believe/cleave to any religious philosophy that comes with personal days...er, quiet contemplation and inner peace.
Okay, I give up. what's "lefse"?
Bev, I always tell people that lefse like a Norwegian crêpe or tortilla. It's a flatbread of a consistency somewhere between those two and there is some potato in the batter.
Christmas lights were banned?! Wow, I never realized just how awful the Carter era was.
Uh, T-Rav, there was an energy crisis...HELLoooooo! We also had to turn the thermostats down to 68 degrees, wear dreary sweaters, and wait in line on odd/even (based on your license plate no.) days to fill up. You kids today just don't understand the sacrifices and hardships we had to face! Hey, we had to walk 5 miles to school every day...in the snow...uphill...both ways! Now get OFF MY LAWN!! ;-)
Bev....But our music ROCKED!! Uh...not really...it discoed. Disco dis way, disco dat way.
I can remember filling up my 67 GTO muscle car with coins my friends and I carried around. I think gas was like 25 cents per gallon at the time.
Oh....And one of the BEST Christmas Eve's ever was going around the neighborhood singing carols while it snowed big, beautiful flakes. Then coming home to hot chocolate and watching Charlie Brown's Christmas. Ahhh yute.....
Patriot! Caroling! I loved to go caroling (sans the snow of course) and then home for hot chocolate and baked goods. No one does that anymore. Every year a group on our block got together and went caroling around the neighborhood. We had a 50th reunion last year, but the caroling lasted about 15 minutes because the neighbors didn't get it. The look on their faces was "Why are the people standing in front of my house and singing at me? Don't they know that could get them killed?" Sad...yeah, ahhhh yute.
Oh, and btw, everyone knocks "disco", but I bet each and everyone of them secretly rocks to ABBA and the Bee Gees in the privacy of their shower stalls!
I've seen houses that still have shag carpeting. You two can keep your '70s.
I went caroling once or twice, mainly to older people who could still appreciate it. In spite of the cold and all, it was a pretty nice experience. And we also got hot cocoa. :-)
Speaking of disco, my mom dubbed a disco version of "Deck the Halls" off the radio when I was a kid (or smaller). I've never figured out who performs this particular version. Anybody recognize it?
LINK
Donna Summer?
That was an early guess, but I've found nothing.
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