Wednesday 11 December 2013

Advent Journey: On Difference


I love to hear about how other people celebrate the Christmas season.
When I was young, I imagined everybody did the same things our family did - and later, on learning of different traditions and ways of "doing Christmas" I was both fascinated and ever so slightly horrified - "You open your presents at midnight?!" " You don't open your presents until after dinner?!" "You go out to a restaurant for lunch?!" "You don't eat turkey?!" I went home to my "normal" family Christmas, safe and secure in its familiarity.

As I grew older and took on the Mrs Christmas role myself, I enjoyed keeping many of my childhood traditions, and passing them on to my own children, as well as instituting new ones.
This year is very different for us. There will only be three of us at home this Christmas. It will be strange - a quiet(ish) house - no mountains of torn wrapping paper, no-one hogging the tub as they try out their new bubblebath, no frantic basting of a huge turkey, no mad crescendo of getting everything to the table on time, no slightly tipsy game of trivial pursuit.  I don't quite know how I will feel on the day - more relaxed, probably! But it is more than  just one day - it is the gradual build up towards Christmas that I love - little things appearing here and there - decorations slowly being put in place, a growing pile of cards, exotic looking tins and packets appearing in the cupboard - bit by bit, Christmas creeps in - to our home and to our heart.

Nowadays, of course, I recognise that Christmas is held in many ways - all equally as valid as ours, and, of course many others celebrate different festivals at this time of year too. I notice, mind you that there seem to be a great many opinions out there, which are very disparaging of others' celebrations, while proclaiming their own to be perfect.  We are all here, in the dark, searching in our own way, for the Light. We can enjoy the fellowship, the feasting and the fun of as we honour our own traditions - and we should. But for me, the truth can be found on the road to that Bethlehem stable and in the empty tomb beyond.

8 comments:

  1. I'm really loving reading your daily posts.
    I've had a first this year and its made me quite emotional, my little granddaughter two and a half was helping her mummy to practice baking mince pies, rolling out the pastry. They grow so quickly and are such sponges absorbing everything life sends their way. I just had to blog the pic!

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    1. I loved your post,Julie - such a joyful and lovely read xx

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  2. I've always felt it was so sad to insist on turkey or ham or this sort of cookie or cake. What has it got to do with anything? I suppose it's because I've celebrated Christmas in so many different ways over the years, having spent it in Italy, France, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Lithuania, the US and the UK. Every year it changes at our house! I don't suppose my children will be insisting on much. And they don't already -- besides wanting coziness!

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    1. hello Sydney - what an interesting life you have had, i have only ever lived in two places, so things take a long while to change! I guess I liked the stability of our family Christmases, and the memory of them is a comfort to me now that my mother has passed away.
      I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas - with lots of cosy times xxx

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  3. We have some small traditions - we open a few presents first thing on christmas morning, when I was a child I opened my stocking then. we always have a few tiny bits and bobs to open after tea as well. Mum & I refuse point blank to do any proper cooking on Boxing Day - everyone fends for themselves from the leftovers. Christmas dinner is a turkey - always - and Mr EH has introduced us to the addition of pigs in blankets and bread sauce with this. I always have to eat 1 sprout - just one, I'm let off any more! Traditions are wonderful, and it's right that they are passed on and that they evolve and get added to.

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    1. Lol - I will always think of you now, with your single sprout :) I remeber introducing the family to some quite daring cheeses and every year I would bet my nephew £5 that he wouldn't eat the goats cheese - he always tried, but was often defeated. I love how those things become part of the tradition xxx

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  4. yes, this is just lovely and so very true. the christmas my little family celebrates is quite different from those i knew growing up but you know, it feels just right.

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    1. What a lovely comment, Amanda - I wish you and your family and blessed Christmas xxx

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