Christmas is more than a day in December
It's all of those things that we love to remember
Its caroler’s singing familiar refrains
Bright coloured stockings and shiny toy trains
Streamers of tinsel and glass satin balls
Laughter that rings through the house and its halls
Christmas is more than a day in December
Its the magic and the love
That we'll always remember”
We were wandering through the streets on that fine evening. The road side shops were shining with stars. I was wondering whether I should buy one for my home or whether they have already bought one. I went for shopping before going home for Christmas holidays. I still remember the star that we used to make during our childhood with the bamboo stalk and coloured papers. Now everything is available ready-made from stars to Christmas Tree. Nobody has the time to make one of their own. Me too, I found a shop with many Christmas trees arranged in a line with different size and heights. I too brought one. I really know my Christmas will end with this. I am going for a 2 weeks’ Christmas vacation. For sure, I am not going to make a Christmas crib or decorate a Christmas tree in front of my house.
While travelling back to hostel, I thought about the Christmas days we had 2 to 3 years back. It was great during those days. For us (myself, my brother & my cousins) preparations for Christmas starts one week before Christmas. The first thing we used to do was to make a big star and hang it in the branch of the biggest tree that we had in front of our house. A bulb would be inserted in the middle of the star and it illuminates at night times. Next is to prepare a Christmas crib. We used to put a lot of effort into this. We had competition to find the most beautiful crib among the neighbourhood. The Christmas crib would be ready by the day before Christmas. Small coloured bulbs, candles, bells & ribbons are used to decorate Christmas tree. As Fir trees are difficult to get, we used to use branches of some other trees. The carol team & Santa would arrive soon. The thing I like the most during Christmas is the way we used to go to the church during Christmas night for Holly mass. The church was near to the house so that we all used to walk to the church together chattering among us and laughing a lot in the cold night. I never felt the chillness that comes through my frock and the shoes I used to wear at that time. We all used to sit in the last row of the church. We never used to bother about whatever that was going on in the church. We all would be asleep from the hard work we had for last few days. We would wake up only during the time they used to supply cake pieces from the church.
I wonder whether my younger cousins know anything about Christmas. For them, it is the time they can eat a lot of cakes, get 10 days of vacation from school, view a lot of new movies that come in all TV channels. I don't know whether the younger generation know the meaning of FIR tree, candle, star and the holly leaf?
The FIR TREE that we use as Christmas tree tells us that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind. All the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man’s thoughts turning toward heaven. The brilliant star we hang in the Christmas tree is the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of that promise. The candles used to decorate Christmas crib symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness. The WREATH we place on the Christmas tree symbolizes the eternal nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection. Santa Claus symbolizes the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December. The holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent blood shed by Him. Gifts are given on the Christmas day to show the love that god has for us. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift. The wise men bowed before the holy babe and presented Him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We should give gifts in the same spirit as the wise men. The candy cane used for decoration represents the shepherd’s crook. The crook on the shepherd’s staff helps bring back strayed sheep from the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother’s keeper. The angels in the Christmas crib represents the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior’s birth. The angels sang ‘Glory to God in the highest, on earth, peace and good will. Even the bell used to decorate tree has it's own meaning. The lost sheep are found by the sound of a bell, it should bring people to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.
“Christmas, the time of year
that has the impact
of a childhood story
and the dreams of the future
all rolled into the presents
that we give our loved ones”
It's all of those things that we love to remember
Its caroler’s singing familiar refrains
Bright coloured stockings and shiny toy trains
Streamers of tinsel and glass satin balls
Laughter that rings through the house and its halls
Christmas is more than a day in December
Its the magic and the love
That we'll always remember”
We were wandering through the streets on that fine evening. The road side shops were shining with stars. I was wondering whether I should buy one for my home or whether they have already bought one. I went for shopping before going home for Christmas holidays. I still remember the star that we used to make during our childhood with the bamboo stalk and coloured papers. Now everything is available ready-made from stars to Christmas Tree. Nobody has the time to make one of their own. Me too, I found a shop with many Christmas trees arranged in a line with different size and heights. I too brought one. I really know my Christmas will end with this. I am going for a 2 weeks’ Christmas vacation. For sure, I am not going to make a Christmas crib or decorate a Christmas tree in front of my house.
While travelling back to hostel, I thought about the Christmas days we had 2 to 3 years back. It was great during those days. For us (myself, my brother & my cousins) preparations for Christmas starts one week before Christmas. The first thing we used to do was to make a big star and hang it in the branch of the biggest tree that we had in front of our house. A bulb would be inserted in the middle of the star and it illuminates at night times. Next is to prepare a Christmas crib. We used to put a lot of effort into this. We had competition to find the most beautiful crib among the neighbourhood. The Christmas crib would be ready by the day before Christmas. Small coloured bulbs, candles, bells & ribbons are used to decorate Christmas tree. As Fir trees are difficult to get, we used to use branches of some other trees. The carol team & Santa would arrive soon. The thing I like the most during Christmas is the way we used to go to the church during Christmas night for Holly mass. The church was near to the house so that we all used to walk to the church together chattering among us and laughing a lot in the cold night. I never felt the chillness that comes through my frock and the shoes I used to wear at that time. We all used to sit in the last row of the church. We never used to bother about whatever that was going on in the church. We all would be asleep from the hard work we had for last few days. We would wake up only during the time they used to supply cake pieces from the church.
I wonder whether my younger cousins know anything about Christmas. For them, it is the time they can eat a lot of cakes, get 10 days of vacation from school, view a lot of new movies that come in all TV channels. I don't know whether the younger generation know the meaning of FIR tree, candle, star and the holly leaf?
The FIR TREE that we use as Christmas tree tells us that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind. All the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man’s thoughts turning toward heaven. The brilliant star we hang in the Christmas tree is the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of that promise. The candles used to decorate Christmas crib symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness. The WREATH we place on the Christmas tree symbolizes the eternal nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection. Santa Claus symbolizes the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December. The holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent blood shed by Him. Gifts are given on the Christmas day to show the love that god has for us. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift. The wise men bowed before the holy babe and presented Him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We should give gifts in the same spirit as the wise men. The candy cane used for decoration represents the shepherd’s crook. The crook on the shepherd’s staff helps bring back strayed sheep from the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother’s keeper. The angels in the Christmas crib represents the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior’s birth. The angels sang ‘Glory to God in the highest, on earth, peace and good will. Even the bell used to decorate tree has it's own meaning. The lost sheep are found by the sound of a bell, it should bring people to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.
“Christmas, the time of year
that has the impact
of a childhood story
and the dreams of the future
all rolled into the presents
that we give our loved ones”
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