How Many Christmases?

As my Christmases become more senescent, I think more about the fact that God only gives us so many Christmases to celebrate if we live the average life expectancy in our country.

With each Christmas, people should not be looking for gifts, but should be thankful for being because life is a perfect gift for each of us, we should be grateful for what we have and for our families.

As a child, living under an atheist, communist regime, I decorated our pine Christmas tree with ornaments I made from colorful crepe paper and filled them with candy. I strung a garland made from shiny paper links glued together, the occasional cookie, an apple, a rare chocolate bar, and an orange. A few expensive glass ornaments were handled with care and hung on the more solid branches. Metal holders with small red candles were clipped to the outer branches. I was allowed to light up a few on Christmas Eve while mom supervised, to make sure that the tree and our apartment did not catch fire.

As I decorate our Christmas tree, it takes us much longer than it used to.  We start early and do a little bit each day and it may take two-three days, but the final result is beautiful. I take down a few boxes of ornaments and realize that I have collected way too many over the years, but which ones do I discard? Some have special meanings, and it is hard to part with them.

Gone are the live blue spruce trees that Mr. Alan used to set up in our living room year after year. Mr. Alan is smiling from Heaven because our tree is now artificial.  His trees smelled so fresh and divine and filled our house with the scent of Christmas and the visions of frost, icicles, and snow.

We watered the tree daily but our Tiger, a bottomless ‘camel,’ drank as much water as we added. At least he did not try to eat the ornaments or climb the tree to chew on the electric wire and lights. When the needles started falling, the wonderful fir smell persisted for a short while. Despite vacuuming, we still found sharp fir needles on the carpet late into the summer.

Christmas is a different time for many people. But the left has tried to diminish and destroy it by introducing the Elf on the Shelf and the non-Christian Kwanzaa started in 1966 after the Watts riots.

On a recent trip to Disney World, although there were a few large fir trees with ornaments and red and pink poinsettias everywhere, there was no reference to Christmas at all but there was ample reference to Kwanzaa.  A black choir sang on a large stage, entertaining visitors, and advertised Kwanzaa celebration on December 26. No mention whatsoever of Christmas.

The joyous Merry Christmas has been replaced by Happy Holidays, in a progressive attempt to be “inclusive,” and now by “Merry & Bright.” I am personally confused what is “merry” and what is “bright,” but it does not seem to bother other people who go about their daily lives ignoring it, until the ‘Merry Christmas’ practice disappears completely. The stores look bleak, almost no decorations to remind people of the celebration of a very important tradition for the western world – Christmas.

It is a special day for Christians and a spectacular day for all children around the world. They wait with bated breath for old man Santa Claus with his white beard and Ho, Ho, Hos, to bring them some desired toy they wanted all year long. This magical man embodied the selfless act of giving:  toys, food, warm clothes, health, love, familial peace, friendship, and joy.

The flying Santa Claus is a tradition, an idea, and a miracle man who can make that special wish come true for all children of the world, small and grown.

Christmas is now for me a time of reflection of our past, present, and the future. The previous Christmases have flown by, with my small family around a table laden with food and our happy children with their toys, and now alone with my husband.

Instead of giving gifts to baby Jesus each year, we chose the less fortunate children who placed their wishes in the Angel Tree at our local mall, and we gave gifts to children who eagerly expected the miraculous Santa to visit them while they slept peacefully in their beds.

Like them, we do not have much family left and those remaining are scattered around the globe. Only the idea of instantaneously traveling Santa Claus with his magical sleigh and the amazing flying reindeer could reach them all. Santa can squeeze through any chimney, avoid any fire, open any door, and eat billions of cookies left by children eager to please him.

But in the material chase to bring happiness to others and especially to children, we forget the simple pleasures of Christmas, love, laughter, being here and now, songs, prayer, and the presence of God in our lives.

Photo copyright: Ileana Johnson