"Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse." I grew up with that traditional Christmas story, loved by so many. On Christmas Eve, my 'Daddy' would sit on the sofa, with me snuggled at one side and my older brother, Donald, on the other side, and Daddy would read the nostalgic, rhyming story of St. Nicholas. I still cherish that well worn book, published in 1938, with the warm pictures of a chubby, smiling, red suited, bearded St Nicholas climbing down a chimney, his huge bag of gifts slung over his shoulder, while his eight gaily decorated reindeer and bell festooned sled sat on the snowy rooftop. I loved the story and I loved the idea of Santa Claus (who St Nicholas became), giving gifts to all the good little children. And, of course, I was always one of those 'good little children'. Yes, Santa was part of my childhood experience of Christmas. It wasn't long however, as I was growing up, that I realized my 'Santa' was really my Daddy, who made sure Donald and I had a Merry Christmas by placing 'just what we wanted gifts' under the tree.
As a family we immersed ourselves in all the wonderful traditions of Christmas....buying the fresh evergreen tree.......decorating with special colored lights and fragile balls....enjoying sounds of Christmas tunes and carols......baking cookies in the shape of gingerbread men, angels, bells and stars....reading Charles Dickens' story about Scrooge...watching Charlie Brown's Christmas and the Grinch that Stole Christmas...singing The Twelve Days of Christmas......and tucking away our simple handmade gifts in our closets until Christmas morning.
BUT, I also remember that in the midst of all the glitter, tastes and sounds of Christmas there was always a marvelous powerful Presence surrounding us proclaiming, Christ, your Savior is born! The deep traditions of Christmas trees and Santa Claus became mere ornaments when Luke 2 was read.....
"And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will come to all people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you; you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths 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 among men with whom he is pleased!" Luke 2:8-14
Jesus was the reason for the season....Jesus was Christmas! So, besides Santa, Christmas trees, mistletoe and holiday parties other traditions played important roles. One year I made a ceramic creche complete with Mary and Joseph, the Babe, shepherds, sheep, cows, camels, wise men and one angel which I displayed on rich burgundy velvet cloth on the dining room hutch. Centered on our kitchen table the Advent wreath with its purple and pink candles reminded us of the coming of the Christ child. One year we added small candle figures of Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus and two little white lambs and placed them in the center of the Advent wreath. A neighbor added a black sheep and tiny angel to complete the set. When our children were young we read the Christmas story while they dressed as the Holy family, shepherds and wise men and acted out the story. Mary was the coveted role!
Yes, Christmas is celebration, tradition and worship. True, there are grumpy moments, impatient moments, exhaustion moments as we do too much. But there is a Christmas spirit that seems to engulf our neighbors, shopkeepers and friends. One can't help but sense that God pours down an unusual amount of love at Christmas. He wants to remind us of His amazing gift of the baby Jesus, who miraculously was born of a virgin on a starry night 2,000 years ago and came to be our Savior!
Enjoy Christmas, celebrate Christmas, ring bells, sing carols, light candles, give gifts. That's what God wants us to do!
