I have to admit I've always loved Christmas. As a child, I liked it for the reasons most children do....PRESENTS. Eventually even that strong mercenary motive began to wane. When I was 15 I became a Christian and Christmas took on a whole new meaning for me. Lines out of often sung Christmas carols like "God and sinners reconciled" spoke profoundly to me in a way they never had before.
Then I had my first baby, a whole new level opened up. Now understand, my daughter was not quite a year old for her first Christmas, but suddenly my motivation to really celebrate in any way possible really moved up a few notches. By December 1st of that year we (well, me really) were baking cookies, decorating, getting a Christmas tree, getting presents. All during the time my children were at home (still one here, thankfully) Christmas traditions grew. As the girls got older we did more and more of the cooking together. One daughter was especially good at decorating and setting a nice table that was a wonderful asset. While still in the US we added the tradition of volunteering at hot meal programs and similar projects.
A personal favorite tradition of mine was the annual Christmas shopping date that Mark and I went on. I would carefully prepare a list of gifts we needed to get and then we would get all of it (or most, if not all) done in one day. He would take a day off of work, we would shop, stop somewhere for lunch, then finish up the shopping and go home. Although it was a long, sometimes tiring day, it was fun and very satisfying to spend that time together.
Living in China has brought some changes. No more real tree for Christmas but we adapted to the idea of (shudder) an artificial one. Still baked our cookies although we had to go further afield for ingredients and some things were just not to be had. But I had gotten into the habit of making Rugelach every year and we were still able to make that, I just had to make my own sour cream.
The upside of being in a country that doesn't have Christmas as a national holiday is that you can actually receive your package sent from home ON Christmas Day. Which is what happened this year, the second time it's happened since moving to China, the first time was our first Christmas. Very cool.
Another thing is that you don't have the crazy holiday shopping crowds here. Just the normal crazy shopping crowds. But don't worry I will get to experience that in abundance when Chinese New Year begins.
There have been other changes in my celebrations. Being the person that I am, I am continually thinking, reading and rethinking. The current rethinking has brought some really good changes to my Christmas customs. I've started giving more and more handmade gifts. I like doing this so much that one of my New Year's resolutions is to spend my downtime, like when I'm watching tv with Mark and Seth making gifts to give next Christmas. Since I like sewing, knitting, and numerous other little crafty things this will be a gift to myself as well. I've just found a simple pattern for crocheted fingerless gloves I can't wait to try out.
Another change was prompted by the website:
Changing the Present
I have certain friends and family who a) have all that they could want and b) share these ideas and I send them gifts from here.
It is a site that lists numerous projects and charities: water wells, books for schools, food for school children, clearing minefields, and many other things. You can make a donation in the name of a friend or relative and they will receive a Christmas card in the mail telling them about the project. I find it a wonderful way of giving that reflects the heart of Christmas.
So though things have changed over the years, reasons, customs, gift giving, children added to the family, children moving out on their own. Christmas seems to grow even more meaningful for me every year.
Cheers!
No comments:
Post a Comment