I hope everyone had a lovely day yesterday, however you chose to celebrate. I know for some—those who got the surprise and unexpected gift of Covid last week— it wasn’t exactly the Christmas they expected or planned. Tom and I are fortunate to be well and we had a low key and very enjoyable day—talking and texting with children and grandchildren and family and friends, enjoying a freshly baked cherry pie and watching ELF, which is one of my favorite films.
I thought about Christmases past with great fondness. My grandfather’s birthday was on Christmas Day and he loved that he was born on such a special day. He loved everything about Christmas. He was usually the first one awake and would come knocking on our doors asking, “Are you going to sleep all day?!!?” He was ready for the celebration to begin.
Growing up, we always got to open one gift on Christmas Eve. Santa gifts came on Christmas morning but gifts from the family were wrapped and placed beneath the tree in the days before. I don’t know how I did it, but inevitably the gift I picked to open was always either underwear or a pair of tights.
On Christmas morning there were Santa gifts beneath the tree and gifts and treats in our stockings, too. There was always an orange in the toe of each stocking. Years later I would discover that it was our mom who put the orange there as it was a very special thing when she was growing up to get an orange. I must admit I was not thrilled that the orange took up so much stocking real estate space but I appreciated it much more when I learned it was such a dear memory for our mother.
Our mother also talked about celebrating “old Christmas.” As you know from the song, there are Twelve Days of Christmas—it starts on Christmas Day and goes to January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany. This is when (so tradition tells us) the Wise Men arrived bringing gifts for the Christ child.. My mother said it was not until Old Christmas that her family shared their gifts with one another.
We have wonderful memories of many Christmases with our own children as they were growing up—Tom and Jody heading up the mountain to find the perfect tree; baking cookies; singing carols; setting up the creche; the excitement you feel when you think you have found someone you love the perfect gift. I know I have been truly blessed to have a family that made Christmas a joy-filled time.
There is an Appalachian mountain tune called Breaking Up Christmas. This was traditionally played at the end of the Christmas season, on Old Christmas, when the celebration would officially end. There had been parties and festivities for all the days from Christmas Eve until Epiphany but now it was time to “break it up” and get back to work. I love this old fiddle tune. It is one of my favorites.
But wait! It is only December 26 as I write this so we have days and days to keep celebrating, reaching out to those we love and those we miss, making music, watching movies, going for walks, having new adventures, eating oranges (and cookies) enjoying each day. Christmas present may not look like Christmas past but it is a time to be cherished as none of us know what Christmas future will bring or be.
Enjoy each day. We don’t have to break up Christmas until January 6! I guess that is when the Angel will say to the Magi, “Wake up! Are you going to sleep all day?”
I always keep my Christmas decorations up until after January 6. I have many wonderful memories of Christmas past when I was a child and also as an an adult. I loved the time this year spent with my son & his family so it will become lovely memories.
So cool! Love the memories and celebrating with family. This year with my niece, nephew and great niece at 6 years old. A magical age. And my first Christmas at Deerfield. Exciting with all the decorations and good wishes from so many folk. Thanks Jeanne for making this an even better Christmas with your blog. New Year’s wishes for a healthy and joyful 2023. 🥳🎉🎶 to everyone.