All Things Christmas

Christmas - The Most Magical Time of Year!

The Christmas holiday season is the ONE time of year when we all relish the cold, crisp weather of Winter and hope for snow  - So we can build a most impressive snowman to stand sentinel in the yard and greet our Christmas guests.   Instead of shivering and complaining about the cold, we enjoy the great artwork Jack Frost leaves on the windowpanes.  We don't even mind scraping the ice and snow off the car windows - it's Christmas time after all. Snow is part of this holiday season.

And as we drive through neighborhood streets, we're given a most amazing Christmas light show courtesy of the outdoor lights displayed on the neightbors' houses and lawns.  Fighting the crowds while shopping for the perfect gifts for loved ones, friends and co-workers is even fun - it just adds to the excitement and spirit of this season. 

It's All Part of the Joy of Christmas

If you have children, you carefully hide their gifts because you know that just like you when you were a child, they will be hunting for them.  Sometimes you keep your kid's Christmas present at a friend's house till Christmas eve, so the children don't find them - And this way you get a chance to visit while you wrap them.  If you have younger children, there are often bikes and doll carriages to be constructed or toys that need batteries installed.  Don't forget to mail the children's letters to Santa at the North Pole.  No matter how old your children are, even ones living away from home, they love Christmas stockings so stocking stuffers are necessary.  A great family tradition is to take your children to buy a few Christmas gifts and food items to donate to those less fortunate.  Christmas is a time for giving and enjoying the company of ALL people, not just that of family and friends.

Christmas morning finally arrives, gifts are opened and the turkey is stuffed and in the oven.  The Christmas tree glows and sparkles with tiny lights and beautiful Christmas ornaments.  Opened gifts sit under the tree; the children are playing while the adults sit and talk.  After all the hard work of preparing for Christmas, it has been worth every second.  Other family members and friends stop by to wish you Merry Christmas and to celebrate this wonderful holiday.  Everyone sits down to a lovely Christmas dinner of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy.  Desert is often plum pudding or Christmas cookies, if you have any room left.  After tidying up and tucking the children into bed, you finally get to sit down and put your feet up.

For many, Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Christ child.  Yet for others, it is the time to celebrate life and pray for peace and harmony amongst all men.  We remember loved ones we have lost, and reminisce about past Chrismases and years gone by.  It make no difference how old we are, what race, culture or heritage - Christmas is a time to love, give of ourselves, rejoice and be very, VERY merry.