The Real Reason for the Season
Unfortunately, the real reason for Christmas seems to be clouded over by the eager retailers. I'm sure regardless of your religion, you've at least heard of Jesus being born. We celebrate Christmas on December 25 in celebration of his birth. There is great dispute as to whether this is actually his birthday. And you should know that the twelve days of Christmas came about because it took 12 days for the wise men to find Jesus by following the star. I specifically remember a special passage from the bible around Christmas time:In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governer of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town on Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting her first child. While they were there, the time came for the child to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
~ Luke 2:1-7, New Internationl Version
I definitely remember it the most because that is the first passage you learn as a little kid in you're parochial school's Christmas Eve service (where you are essentially the pastor for the night). I kind of miss those services. I haven't gone in over six years. But I still remember everything that was taught. Perhaps you can keep in mind what Christmas is really all about.
Christian Christmas links:
- A Religious Christmas
And now
What Christmas Means to Me:
Christmas is just such a happy time in our house. I get all giddy starting in November and come Thanksgiving, our tree is up right after dinner.
Traditionally I'd hog all the tree decorating, but now that I'm on my own, it's my right. First of course you line it with many lights, then add the garland, then put the ornaments on (glass at top so no kids or pets knock them off), and finally add the tinsel (icicles). I'd put the Santa (in place of an angel cuz I picked it out) on top, but the tree's too tall. So my hubby will have to. You should know that it is generally thought that the Christmas tree is a German tradition that immigrants brought to the new world. The Tannenbaum would be decorated with candles in secret by the parents and revealed to the kids on Christmas. Allow me now to greet you in German: Froliche Weinachten!And of course there's the lights to decorate outside. Don't you just love driving around looking at Christmas lights? (Milwaukee has a Candy Cane Lane, which is just a couple streets with houses mega-decorated! It's so awesome!) And we hang stockings, but not for Christmas like my husband's family does. (Where did that come from?) It's hung on December 5 because when you wake on the 6th, St. Nick has come. And there's a parallel story in Germany with a Sankt Nikolaus who comes to give you goodies in your shoes, but if you've been bad, he has some other person (the name slips my mind) give you a lashing with a tree branch. Ouch!! St. Nick always gets me in the mood for Christmas.
Isn't it hard sleeping the night before? I remember it taking forever. But we'd always be up by like 5 the next morning. There was too much to look forward to! The latest I've ever slept on Christmas morning was 8 am. And that's because we opened presents on Christmas Eve. That's when Rob (and family) do their X-mas thing. I'm kinda glad because then we can have Christmas morn for ourselves and Christmas afternoon for my family. Holidays are big in my family. We used to spend Christmas by my mother's parents, but then they moved and my aunt took over. Just these past two years we've gone also by my father's parents (where we haven't been since like 1984), but Grandma Boettcher died in February of '98 and we haven't been back since. Don't you just love Christmas by the grandparents? You get to open that underwear in front of ALL your relatives! And if they were anything like my grandparents, they'd be about 3 sizes too big and that wonderful old lady style. (No offense, but I don't need underwear that goes up to my chin!) I can't imagine my mother doing that to my kids!
Look at those little babies! In all the holiday spirit with Rudolph behind them. Chuck (2 years 1 month in that picture) is wearing what my sister bought for him the previous year for Christmas. I hope he never grows out of that. Yes, his shoes are on the wrong feet. It's my husband's fault. And that sweet little baby Bridgette (7 months) is wearing a Christmas gift from her great-grandmother. Don't you love her little hair? Did you know that in the US, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer has been showing on TV for 30 years! I couldn't believe it myself. I don't know how long Frosty's been on, but that's got to be a while, too. I can't wait to see those cute specials like Charlie Brown, Garfield, and Rugrats. Of course I haven't seen Garfield on TV in over 2 years. I think they just brought back Charlie Brown. Rugrats is going strong. In fact, they have a Chanakuh special, too. (I probably massacred that word!) The specials are really cute, and Chuck likes them. I can assume that It's A Wonderful Life will be shown at least a jillion times! I didn't like that movie. I finally saw it like 2 years ago.
Some more Christmas links:
- Christmas 'round the World [Wide Web] Get a taste of that Christmas culture around the world.
Claus.com You NEED to come here. You can go to elf school, track Santa throughout December, and find out if you're on the naughty or nice list. It will bring out that little kid in you. And they have these delicious sounding recipes that I keep swearing I'm gonna try!