(The Early Stages of the Santa Claus Tradition Here in America)

Briefly think for a moment. Just Elaborate. What would you call someone who is daunted by the mere mention or materialization of Santa Claus? A communist? An Atheistic? A Kringle-phobic? Perhaps, maybe — but not me – I say if you have an aversion to Santa Claus, then you are Claus-trophobic! Today, this is an all too real affliction in America. Across the country – many kids are deprived of the fable, the heritage – the tradition – of the very icon of Christmas spirit and gaiety, Santa Claus. For an innumerable amount of generations now, children have, by tradition  been taught that a plump, jolly fellow makes his list, checks it twice – and notes whose naughty and whose nice. But today this tradition is in danger, especially in America. In Minnesota, not long ago, there lived a paraprofessional, a collaborator of Santa. This man annually dawned the dress of the iconic figure himself, oft ,in succession, tarriancing away to the joy of those of a childish nature, hither and whither, at a private school, bringing with him holiday cheer, good-will, and most importantly, free candy! But one year, he was not allowed to return, not allowed to bring the holidays exuberance. Why, you might ask? Simple, Claustrophobia. A parent, afflicted by such an ailment, discovered this man, this surrogate of Kris Kringle and cringed at his annual visitation to the school, and sued – and won. My question is though: Why? Why would you and or anyone else sue over the appearance, presentation, or materialization of Santa Claus?
            Santa Claus has been a long standing tradition in America and the world even, dating back hundreds if not thousands of years to its source, Saint Nicholas of Myra. Without this tradition, what is Christmas? Without Santa Claus, Kris Kringle, or Father Christmas, what is it, not to us, but to children, our children? What could possibly replace Christmas? 

Food for thought. Respond in the comment section below with your thoughts. And I know its March but hey remember, Christmas in July  

(An old rendition of Santa Claus doing what he does best, making toys for the good little boys and girls)

1. Wrapping Christmas presents.  Because I’m so good at it.

2. Driving through mall parking lots for hours to find a parking spot and the looks and swears I get while doing so.

3. Walking through that very same mall for hours in a sea of annoyed, bitter people searching for a gift or gifts for people who probably won’t even appreciate them in the first place.

And that my friends is a little bit of Christmas sarcasm.

For most of December that’s what Christmas feels like.  The consumer-driven fury of gift shopping.  When business owners are giddy with the anticipation of cash registers ringing and children singing on Christmas Day about their fancy new Xbox’s or tablets or Tickle-Me Elmo’s.  We battle through malls and department stores, swimming through mobs of frustrated patrons with the good intentions to spend money to give gifts to those we care about. 

Apparently that’s what defines Christmas these days.  Gift giving.  And for some, the more expensive the gift, the more kind and giving you are.

That’s not Christmas.

Let me remind everyone that we didn’t always have malls.  We weren’t always part of a well-to-do society that will spend billions on that gift exchange.  There are people out there who can’t get their children what they want, who can’t see their families in other countries or provinces, who have lost those loved ones forever or who just can’t afford it. Then there are those who just give out a bit of cash and are done with it.  Those who only take part in it because society says it’s the right thing to do.  *cough* Dad *cough*

Personally, I can’t afford much.  I never could.  I can’t waltz into Future Shop and buy all my friends 80 inch plasma TV’s and I probably never will.  But if I could, I would in a heartbeat.

So this nagging question dawns on me as I’m watching a co-worker unwrap a trick-wrapped gift I got her for her Secret Santa Gift: “Is this Christmas?  Is that what’s happening right now?”

But then she turned to me and said “Thank you Adam, this means so much to me” and my head and heart both stood up and said “There it is!  This is Christmas!”  I was overjoyed.  I had made her so happy and that made me feel…well…the Christmas Spirit.

When a middle-aged man stopped me and my friend as we were walking into a pub for a quick drink and gave us 10 dollars and said “the first drink is on me – Merry Christmas”, my head and heart stood up once again and said “There it is!  This is Christmas!”  When I walked out of the mall in a bitter tizzy and a young boy held the door open for me and quietly chimed “Merry Christmas” much to his Mother’s delight, my head and heart stood up once again and I couldn’t help but smile.

“Santa has something special for you, I’m sure.” I replied, smiling at his Mother – and the same boyish smile pasted on my face erupted onto his face like the 4th of July.

“There it is.  That’s Christmas.  That’s the spirit,” something said to me and I was so excited for that boy.

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in all of the hullabaloo of this commercial Christmas that we forget why Christmas exists in the first place.  And while that ageless gift exchange has its merits (and quite frankly I selfishly love it – as do we all, I’m sure), there’s just so much more to it than that.

So when you’re out there battling through that quest of finding the right gifts for those you love, just remember that the Christmas Spirit isn’t far away.  Just look to the person beside you, in front of you, behind you – no matter where you are, or who it is you’re looking at – and two words with a big, beautiful smile will help guide you right back to it.

“Merry Christmas!”

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, although I hear people say it doesn’t and read a lot of Facebook statuses that say so, but what does Christmas feel like anyway?  Are people ignoring the Christmas decorations in their towns and cities, the civic Christmas trees, all the gift buying and partying?  It is all out there! If my cat can sport a Santa hat and look Christmassy anyone can!

What I have noticed this year is that many are saying that they only bought 8 cards or that they can’t afford to send cards.  I remember past times when I used to have over 100 cards at Christmas but so far only one from Greenisland Baptist Church sits on my mantelpiece since the church give a calendar and card to every home in my area every Christmas, which is nice.  I kind of ask myself is it the spirit of Christmas that people have lost or are people less friendly nowadays that they don’t bother so much with card buying and sending?  Is it really that they can’t afford to when cards are not all expensive and can be bought in Pound Shops and hand delivered. 

LILY PROVING THAT A CAT IS FOR LIFE NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS

Jack Frost may have dusted my street with crunchy stuff overnight but I detect a chill in the hearts of people who don’t really want to give though no doubt would happily receive.  Do you where you live, or is it just a depressed, recession hit Northern Ireland who is like this?  One elderly man who chatted to me on the bus yesterday said that people today were becoming more selfish and isolating themselves from people. He could have a point.  People did mix more when I was growing up in the 1950s when people where I lived didn’t have much, seemed worse off than we all are now, yet still afforded to give each other Christmas cards.  Not all could afford to give gifts, but the elderly man was right when he said that they were less selfish.  There was more community spirit.  When hear times hit they were all in it together and helped each other.  Now those so poor that they can’t afford to send cards this year drive around in their cars bemoaning the price of petrol and wouldn’t walk two streets away to the local shop but they are so hard done by that posting a few cards would kill them!  Sorry… but some people need a verbal kick up their asses in the western world.

I can’t believe that it is as bad as people are making out… so Bah Humbug Scrooge to them, I say. 

Christmas trees and holly make everyone so jolly… not if they are too busy grumbling about the price of a cheap card and a second class stamp to wake up and smell the pine trees lit up and the carols and Christmas songs pumping out of the big stores!  And love just fills the air?  Where?  Come on now!  Thaw out a few cold and frosty hearts and get a bit of Christmas spirit into you folks.  It’s the season for giving.  It’s a time for living.  I’ve been to one art gallery celebration where I had the offer of wine and mince pies and didn’t spend a penny.  Lovely chat and atmosphere and a few new friends made.  Networking.  Lovely artwork and crafts to look at.  I chose life folks!  I don’t sit around waiting for things to happen.  I go out and have a life, disabled thought I am, pushing 60 too and am invited to a Party at Hudson’s Bar in Belfast on Sunday night to hear all the best of the latest chart music, Dance, Garage, R&B and so on.  No… I chose life.  I may not drink and pubs are not my normal scene, but a party and some diet cokes won’t break my bank and I may be the oldest swinger in town at that but an invitation is worth taking up and I will know at least one face there… the DJ who invited me.  

DJ OLA MELODY AND FRIEND

I’m going to have a happy Christmas and one on a tight budget too, but I will not let the recession or people’s attitudes get in the way of a bit of good clean fun. 

Christmas spirit starts with the individual.  What does Christmas feel like?  Whatever the heck you make it to be.

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Christmas is a time of celebration, a time of giving, of spending time with loved ones and relaxing with friends and family. It can also be a hard time for those who find themselves isolated and alone. Its easy to get caught up in the frenzy of buying dozens of gifts and copious amounts of food and to not realise that some people in our communities don’t have the means to celebrate or anyone to celebrate with. This year show that you care by making an effort to bring a little Christmas spirit to those less fortunate in your community.

Pass on your gifts – Tell your friends and family that instead of buying gifts for you this year they should make a donation to a local charity. For a lot of people spending fifty or a hundred dollars on a gift is nothing so to give this money to a charity instead can mean quite a significant donation. A lot of really worthwhile groups rely totally on donations to operate and your generosity can literally be the difference between them being able to help people or not.

Volunteer – Its not hard to find a group who puts on free Christmas lunch or dinner for the less fortunate and these groups can always use an extra pair of hands. Find out what’s being organised and what help is needed to help make the event a special one for all those attending. If you don’t have time to be there in person, maybe donate a gift basket to be given out as a door prize. Any bit of help you can offer will most definitely be appreciated.

Give generously – Help someone in your community have a great celebration by getting them a Christmas hamper. Whether it’s the single parent family down the street or the poor student household on your block, there is no tastier Christmas treat than that which is given by a caring neighbour.

Invite a guest – Having people to celebrate Christmas with makes the day way more special though there’s always people who find themselves away from their family and friends over Christmas. If you hear of a co-worker, friend, neighbour or  even a stranger who doesn’t have anyone to spend Christmas with, invite them to your place to celebrate with you. Inviting someone into your home to be part of your celebration is one of the most special gifts you can give to a person and one they will never forget.

Reconnect – Call family or friends who you have fallen out of touch with and reconnect. You never know how well or badly people are doing, especially at Christmas, so a simple call can make a huge difference to someone’s day. What better excuse to patch up broken friendships than a call on Christmas day. It doesn’t cost anything to wish someone a happy holiday and it may be all you need to get back in touch with a loved one.

Remember that Christmas is about people and not things and you are sure to have a magical Christmas this year.

The spirit seems to be there and alive.  I went light looking tonight.  You go out after dark and view all the pretty lighted houses on the block.  And now it is even great to go light looking during the day.  So many houses decorate for the day time also.  It is fabulous!  I even put up our tree tonight.   And I will make some eggnog tomorrow.  And go to the local church soon to listen to Christmas carols.  And if I am in luck, I will be able to hear the bell choir.  I was in a bell choir as a youth.  It was a great experience to be a part of something that you cannot do alone.

And it required the utmost precision.  I only wish that everyone could have the Christmas spirit all year round.  They truly miss out on the whole meaning if they do not.  Being kind to your fellow human beings when it is the most difficult is something you should strive to do all year round.  Being mean back to someone is just not good.  And not what is intended in the big picture.  This year, my wish is that everyone finds a little bit more inner peace wherever they are.  And then, just maybe, we will someday have peace on earth all over the world.

It is Christmas and it is the time to rejoice and celebrate. Spending time with our loved ones is a happy time. Sitting around the dinner table and opening presents is a part of our lives we take for granted during this period.

But spare a thought for those less fortunate.

There are children across the world who are possibly dying or have no parents and family. Those who lie in hospital who wonder whether they will see another Christmas is something that is real. Children suffer during this time and those born into poverty probably have no presents to open. They may just yearn for a simple gift of life or their next meal. They may cry for a mother and father who left them long ago. It is the simple things we take for granted that would be the ideal present for many children across the world.

Then there are the sick and disabled amongst us. There are many people, not just children, who are perhaps dying from disease and sickness who wonder what the next day will bring. In the hope their life betters in health, we can all say a prayer.

Across the world people struggle in an economic crisis that appears will never improve. But whilst the majority of us struggle through, there are people, families and individuals who simply have nothing. They hope for a meal, a warm bed, a dry place to reside and look out into the world and hope and pray their lives will take a turn for the better. 

Sometimes people can’t just work through life towards a better place. In many parts of the world there is no employment, there are no hospitals, there is no family. Governments forget people and focus on their own greed and power, forgetting their own countrymen as they cast them out into the wilderness. To them, survival is hoarding their billions and holding onto their expensive wine collection. Never forget those who elected those individuals to power. Because it is those that suffer the most.

The elderly struggle this time of year. Many sit in cold homes, unable to heat because they fear opening up their next heating bill. Many have no family and sit alone in darkness, unable to light their homes as they sit shivering waiting for the dawn of the next day. So take your time to think of those. If you know of anyone in such a position, pay a visit. Just a simple 15 minutes of your time may be the perfect Christmas present they could ever wish for.

Then there are those overseas who are fighting wars – some for cause, others simply because Governments order them to in their relentless grasp for power. Spare a thought for them as they are away from their family and loved ones. Soldiers are soldiers – but they are also human beings too.

So please, during this festive joy and opening of presents as we gather round in our warm homes – glance out your window across the street and deep into the horizon and think of those who are so less fortunate than yourself. I am sure most Triond writers amongst us will share my own sentiments.

So say a prayer and bring the power of God to give them hope and joy into their lives. 

We can only hope that should that be us, someone, somewhere would be thinking of you too…

Smile and say “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas.”

Greeting everyone you know and anyone in the streets.

Bake cookies for friends and neighbors.

Involve your children in making these delicious treats. This is a fun way to spread the holiday cheer.

Send Everyone a Family Postcard.

Mail, Email or handed personally, these cards surely gives others a happy thought and a big smile.

Sing Christmas carols.

Singing Christmas songs spread holiday spirits best. Sing with your family and friends.

Fill your pockets with change.

Be ready for Christmas carolers on your doorstep or for poor people in the streets, they need it most.

Give small gifts.

Give small gifts especially for those who provide services to you (mailman, plumber, secretary, etc.). Let them know that you value their big help.

Donate toys for children.

This is a good way to teach your child to give their best or new-like toy to other children.

Decorate the house.

Share the Christmas cheer through the wonderful sights you made up, inside and outside your home.

Volunteer your time and energy.

Helping others is a great way to spread the cheer.

Teach your kids the meaning and spirit of Christmas.

Christmas is a season of thoughtfulness and giving. Teach your kids as early as today and they will never depart from it as they grow older.

There is nothing like a heartwarming tale of love at Christmas, to warm out hearts and brighten our holidays. That is why movies such as “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Miracle on 34th Street” have become Christmas classics. While these movies are wonderful and have become part of our Christmas traditions to be watched year after year there are other movies that are not considered to be Christmas Classics but, should be. Here are those movies and why this writer things that they are worth viewing again and again.

The Gathering

The Gathering was a made for TV movie that came out in 1977 and starred Ed Asner and Maureen Stapleton. It is the story of a man who due to his unforgiving nature had alienated his children and wife and was living alone when he discovers he is dying. Wanting to see his children one last time he and his wife planned to have one last family Christmas in the hope that all the children will come home. While this movie could have maudlin it is not, instead it is a heartwarming tale of forgiveness and redemption and the triumph of love against all odds.

Image via Wikipedia

It Came Upon The Midnight Clear

This 1984 movie stars Mickey Rooney a retired cop from New York who has promised to take his grandson to New York for Christmas. However, before he can keep his promise he dies. Determined to keep his promise to his grandson he makes a deal with Saint Peter that if Saint Peter lets him live until Christmas day he will find a misplaced angel who is roaming the streets of New York. In doing so, he teaches the people of that city and the television viewer that the Christmas spirit is something that lives within us all.

Image via Wikipedia

It Almost Wasn’t Christmas

This 1989 movie stars Charles Durning and Wayne Osmond (Marie and Donnie’s older brother). When Santa decides to give up on Christmas because no one cares about anyone else any more but, he decides to do one last good deed and help a little girl reunite with her father for Christmas. With the little girl’s help and that of a bumbling overly large elf, Santa himself discovers that people do care about one another after all.

Image via Wikipedia

The Christmas Star

This 1986 movie again features Ed Asner, this time as a escaped con who poses as Santa Claus and decides to use to children who think he is really that jolly old elf to help him get his stash of hidden counterfeit money, but, instead finds that with the help of these two children he discovers the true meaning of Christmas.

These four movies all offer a bit of humor, moments of sadness, a the overall good feeling that the Christmas spirit is indeed alive and well and within us all. These movies are almost enough to make you believe in Santa Claus once more.

So what do you think about when you think of Christmas? Well some people think about the food, which is not a bad thing. yes you do eat a lot, but is this really the true meaning of Christmas?

Others think about presents and gifts. A lot of kids think it is, and that keeps the spirit up. Yes there is a lot of money spent every year on Christmas gifts, but is this the real meaning of Christmas?

Some more people think it is about being with there family’s. It is always impotent to be with family, because they will not always be there. Spend the most time as you can before you can not. So is this the real meaning of Christmas?

It is up to you what the real meaning is, because it is different with everyone. So enjoy the Christmas food, presents, family and friends. have a good Christmas and a Happy New Year.