The happy and sad facts of Christmas.

THE HAPPY AND SAD FACTS OF CHRISTMAS

Song- ‘Happy Xmas ( War is over ) ‘ -John Lennon, Yoko Ono

I love Christmas and at 66 I still get excited to prepare a delicious feast to share with family, grandchildren and relatives. I love watching my grandchildren opening their presents at gift giving. I love getting together with friends and neighbours to celebrate the Christmas season.

However, I often find myself reflecting on how Christmas has changed over the decades. I might be putting decorations on the tree or writing out the Christmas shopping list or listening to a Christmas song and suddenly I find myself laughing as I recall an hilarious moment, or become melancholy and teary as I think about family and friends who are no longer with us.

Growing up, Christmas was very simple and seemed to get bigger each year. One or two gifts, home cooked roasted stuffed chicken and vegetables, home made gravy, home made pudding and custard and the excitement of finding a threepence in the pudding. The most important part was the gathering with parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles, siblings, cousins and friends. Christmas often lasted for days and unexpected friends or relatives were always welcomed to stay.

Decorations were minimal, a blow up Santa, a few baubles hanging from a gum tree branch, tinsel and always the Santa photo with siblings and cousins (Murray Brothers, Parramatta).

One tradition that has passed the test of time and still going strong, The Santa Photo.

Christmas 1961

A favourite memory of mine was of one particular Christmas Eve. The yearly tradition was that only the women headed off to midnight mass (the once a year ritual just so God didn’t forget them and to ensure their place at the pearly gates). On returning from mass there was a group of people on the street near our house holding a torch in one hand and an ale in the other and singing Christmas carols. After close inspection it was my father wearing Mum’s wig and a throw over as a veil. The others were my uncles wearing a tea towel on their head held on with garden twine. It was hilarious and we all joined in singing until we realised it was 1.30am Christmas Day!

Happy Facts of Christmas

• Choice of new decorations each season – Elaborate trees with built in lights and decorations.
• Unlimited food choices- seafood, turkey, chicken, hot and cold food and Christmas recipes from around the world.
• You tube channels for all things Christmas – Christmas cooking, outfits, desserts, home made gifts and decorations.
• Welcoming new babies, partners, in-laws to their first family Christmas
• Christmas carols and Christmas music.
• Reading Christmas books to the grand children.
• Christmas movies (I still love Christmas Vacation.)
• The Christmas hype – decorating the tree, watching the neighbourhood light up with beautiful decorations and lights, organising the menu, choosing and wrapping gifts, making the pudding. (After 66 years I made my first pudding this week).
• Gatherings with friends, neighbours and work colleagues.
• The finale – Christmas feast, lunch and or dinner with family.

Sad Facts of Christmas

• For many, family is far away and unable to get together at Christmas
• Memories of Christmas celebrations with parents, grandparents, relatives and friends who have deceased.
• Children being overindulged with gifts (I am guilty of this too)
• Loneliness. So many people spend Christmas alone.
• Children and families whose life and homes have been destroyed in war torn zones who will be unable to celebrate Christmas.
• People, families and business who have been victims of natural disasters this year in Australia- bush fires, cyclones and floods. And natural disasters across the globe. How often do these disasters occur during the lead up to Christmas or during the Christmas holiday season.

Conclusion

I will take a gift and Christmas treats to some people who are alone on Christmas Day. For myself I think it is an important time to be kind to others, to be grateful for all the good times and people who have touched our life both past and present.

Thank you to everyone who regularly read my posts. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year as we continue to work towards being happy and healthy in 2024 and beyond.

If I am to live to be a healthy centenarian I wonder what Christmas will be like in 2057 !

Song- ‘I saw mummy kissing Santa Claus’ recorded by Jimmy Boyd 1952, music and lyrics by Tommie Connor. (This is the first Christmas song I can recall hearing as a young child. My parents had it on a heavy, thick, black 78 shellac record. It wasn’t until I was much older that I realised it was a male singing !! )

Until next time- ‘ Keep on Rocking and Rolling ‘

Kim