Christmas Essay - What Christmas Is To Me

  As far back as I can remember my favorite time of year was Christmas. At the twilight of my life it is the time of year that I get a deep case of the 'Blues'. It is because Christmas is best when there are children around to create the atmosphere. Of course, there is the material trappings called “decorations” that go with it making it even more special.

  Yes, Christmas became more commercial in the 50s and 60s as it certainly is today - but even that makes for more nostalgia. Mother and father would pack us in the car on an evening when the stores were closed and drive to State Street in Chicago, park the car and walk among the wondrous store front displays of the big stores that are slipping away in history - Sears, Macy's, etc.  It was magical especially those with animated Christmas scenes.

  Then there was the Christmas TV commercials that enticed kids to ask Santa for toys featured like what could be found in the Sears Christmas Catalog. 

Those days of childhood are special memories remembering my siblings, parents, cousins and aunt/uncle along with neighborhood friends.

Then there is the original meaning or reason for Christmas derived from the original Latin “Christ's Mass” that celebrates the birth of the reason why Christianity was founded.

It is a time for celebration of family and 'good cheer'. A time for baking and preparing for a Christmas dinner on Christmas Day. Singing Christmas songs on Christmas Eve was a tradition in our family when we were young inspired by my mother who loved music. 

  During Christmas Day before the evening meal, children play with new toys they received placed under a decorated tree on Christmas Eve.    The tree more often than not is artificial these days, but modern technology has made it look so real minus the drying out and fallen needles that must be cleaned up. 

The average height of a traditional tree is six feet – a ladder or step stool needed to “trim” the top with an angel or a star, another tradition.

While there are elements of tradition in every family, the general atmosphere is universal. Radio stations play non-stop continuous Christmas songs that have been recorded over the decades since after WW2 ended. Traditional songs like 'White Christmas' by Bing Crosby, 'Silver Bells' by Kate Smith, and 'Pretty Paper' by Roy Orbison has been accompanied by Christmas songs and versions of the traditional performed by popular artists.

Some families drive around the neighborhood to see the exterior decorations adorning family homes on Christmas Eve, lit up like Las Vegas casinos. When I lived in Georgia I would take my son to Lake Lanier where there was a after-dark drive-through (called Magical Night of Lights) Christmas scenic ride in the family car that ended with Santa complete with sleigh and reindeer down to the “nose that glows” of Rudolph the most famous.

In my generation of Christmas the songs played around the home were the voices of Bing Crosby ["White Christmas"], Kate Smith ["Silver Bells", Judy Garland ["Have Yourself A Merry Christmas"], Nat King Cole ["The Christmas Song"] most reminiscent of my parents generation of the “Big Band” era that recently was revived in the form of “Candyman” performed “Hot” Christina Aguilera. Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" song has become a modern classic.

But no Christmas tune selection is complete without at least one song performed by the “King”, Elvis Presley ["I'll Be Home For Christmas"].

When the time came to celebrate Christmas with my own child those days of remembrance was rejuvenated.

My youngest sister and her husband probably have the most decorative home in America – filled with every kind of Christmas symbol that could be imagined from Father Christmas to the Nativity and the sounds of young children still heard coming from grandchildren.

  It has become a tradition to watch Christmas film classics like "It's A Wonderful Life", "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation", and "Home Alone" as examples.

  We need to bring back that community spirit that is depicted in that old film. It is the foundation of what helped America be so great. Youth helped elderly ladies across the street instead of calling them "Nazi" and intimidating them with violence. The world will never be perfect, but it cannot be a bad thing to strive to make it "more perfect" as the Founders said of our new Republic.
  So I guess my 'Blues' is not generated from depression, but instead nostalgia when Christmas was a time of magic, peace and family love. It is a time I miss my family and friends the most spread across this vast nation.

  Snow can be seen in the not-too-distant mountains here in Arizona, but the thick blanket of falling snow seen in my youth in Midwestern US and frigid temperatures are absent. At my age, the latter part is not missed.

  I wish all a very Merry Christmas and a happy, prosperous New Year and invite you to reflect upon and make a vow that our nation become united once again and those wonderful traditions and important heritage not be forgotten in a time when some misguided Americans want to remove that which made America great. 
  The Elvis song, "If Every Day Could be Like Christmas" applies. Values and morality must never be outdated.

Following video is about Christmas obsession ....