My daughter and I have been having a bit of a 'discussion' about Christmas. Now I am a Grown-Up I freely admit that my middle name is Scrooge and I despise the commercialism of this time of year with its emphasis on spending and the material.
V is doing her best to remind me of the magic of the season which I agree is still there for children.
I have taken the liberty of copying the email she has just sent me.
The question I asked was What IS Christmas?
An extract below:
tradition, history, innocence (well my kids have it), occasion, family get togethers, wrapping paper, tinsel, ribbon, colour, lights, trees lit-up and decorated; inside and out, the smell of pine needles and woodsmoke, magic, anticipation....and the transcendence of everyday ordinary bleak British winter blues.
The kids have just come in and I 've asked them what they love about Christmas...
Shauna...Exciting time to share with family.
Kayleigh... Ohh, I was going to say that Shauna...the special food and...MAGIC!...and the feeling when you can't sleep because father Christmas is coming...and leaving him a mince pie
Emmie.. Family, going to Nanny's house.
I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December
A magical thing
And sweet to remember.
'We are nearer to Spring
Than we were in September,'
I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December.
- Oliver Herford, I Heard a Bird Sing
8 comments:
Two wonderful blogs today, Cait. I will echo my earlier comment. You always offer us the unexpected, but delightful mix.
DJ Cait! Mixer extraordinaire.
And you confirm those moon fillings and wanings, that I sense without even looking up into the sky as I exit the subway station on the way home from work.
Have a beautiful weekend.
xo
I've put up a You Tube post about Christmas that will probably make you laugh!
I'm with V. Much as I also deplore the commercialisation and the exhortations to spend really dumb amounts of money on stuff no-one needs, I just love Chrsitmas. I love the whole idea of a midwinter celebration and the excitement it holds for children. As long as I don't have to go near the shops that is, or watch the ads on TV....
Your daughter has a nice way with words, unsurprisingly!
I quite like Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; the family, the food, the delight the children take in their presents. The rest of it, I can take or leave. I hate the commercialism and I despise the shopping.
Very nice, Cait.
caught the Sonny and Cher - Gosh that takes me back to those gorgeous times when Christmas seemed to creep up in 3 days and you hurried home to eat and drink to excess only to tear off in some exotic direction afterwards. All so care free. SM is quite right about the mid-winter celebration - that's what it should be.
To me, Christmas is validation is the spirit of giving that should inmbue the other eleven months.
Lovely Cait. A perfect reminder of whjat it is about. I am very excited this year as there is very much a homemade feel to it all with the children making as well as us...mind you, we always do make the pud, cake, sloe gin, etc! xx
I just adore your blogs Cait, you fill us with so much wonder and delights. I loathe the commercialism of Christmas,but love to see enjoyment of children's excitement of the festivity.
Usually there is too much to eat and too much to drink,quite unecessary.
Your daughter's creativity for writing is lovley, not surprising then Cait as you are beautiful with words also.
Camilla.xx
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