Merry Christmas To All!

 Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la. It’s the one time of the year that adults throw away their inhibitions and allow a twinkle to return to their eyes and let innocence return to their hearts as they free the inner child that has been locked away in the depths of their being. It’s the time of the year when children dream the dreams that are made of candy, cookies, and gifts. This is the time of year when we celebrate with our family. It’s the time to share traditions with the elders, teach those traditions to the younglings, and sometimes even adopt new traditions. Traditions are as unique as the people that hold them in their hearts, but there are a few that all of us can agree are pretty universal.

One tradition is the setting up and decorating of the Christmas tree. Not everyone does this at the same time or in the same way. Some people set it up the weekend of Thanksgiving while others wait until Christmas Eve night to do it, but most of the people who partake in the celebration of Christmas have a tree as part of their festivities. Some of the others are a stocking, wrapped gifts, family and friends over for a huge feast, eggnog, and Santa Clause.

One tradition that I have continued from my childhood is allowing the opening of one gift on Christmas Eve. Yet another tradition for me is to play Christmas music every second that I can. Yes I love Christmas music, to the point of obsession some in the family might say, but to all of you who don’t enjoy holiday music twenty four hours a day seven days a week, Humbug. 

A new one for my wife, well ten years in the running “new”, is her Christmas cookie cooking marathon. It just wouldn’t be Christmas without her cookies. Here’s a tradition that the both of us do together. When the tree is final up we both put the angel on top of the tree. I’m not really sure where that one came from. I don’t remember if that was something our parents did or if it was one we started ourselves.

We can’t forget about the Christmas Story movie marathon either. Thanks to TBS we now have twenty four hours to get our fix in. What would the holidays be without seeing little Ralphie and his Red Rider BB gun escapades.  

One tradition that we had to start this year was to take the Bean to see Santa. It seemed like half of Chesterfield County had the same idea, at the same time. It wasn’t that bad at all and it was great to see how the kids got excited about seeing the big guy. I was nervous about Santa this year. I was afraid he would see me and just hand me my lump of coal right there, but I was also apprehensive about Beans response to Santa.  He is at that age where he knows there is a difference between family and friends and foes.

Is Santa a foe? No not at all, but let’s be honest here, for some kids he might be rather scary. Bean wasn’t going to put his eyes upon Santa and those weren’t Santa’s hands reaching out to him. Oh no, this was some really big dude with a white beard almost as big as Bean, dressed in a bright red suit, red hat, and white gloves. He wasn’t just reaching for Bean, but actually taking him in his arms as mommy and daddy walked away! Oh the sinister things parents do to their children for their own sick pleasures and traditions. I just knew that he was going to lose it. What was a little Bean to do but cry?

Or simply look up at Santa, turn towards the camera, and give a huge smile that melted the hearts of all the mere mortals who gazed upon it. Hey I’m not saying that just because I’m his father. I can write a biased story, the lady who worked behind the counter said the same thing. Then she tried to sell me the upgrade photo album for fifty dollars more, but I know she meant it, I could tell by the smile on her face. In all honesty she did say he was a cute little man and no she didn’t try and sell me anything.

Traditions are as different as the families that celebrate them. I hope that you are blessed to have the opportunity to share your traditions with your loved ones this Christmas. May your day be filled with joy and laughter, and may your receive the greatest gift of all, a precious memory of a joyous time in your life.