The Sweetness of Christmas. December 6th 2023

 Nineteen Days!  Just 19 sleeps!  I do love Christmas.  I think my better half loves it at least as much.  In truth Christmas for her is a little more labour intensive than it is for me.   I do the exterior lighting, and I decorate the basement.  I bake two pans of brownies ( I use a mix and substitute water with Kahula or  Irish Cream.)    Carol Does the serious decoration on the main floor.  She does the rest of the shopping, the rest of the baking, the prep for our annual Christmas Party,  The tourtieres for both the party and Christmas Eve.  She does the turkey dinner Christmas day for a full house.  She does the special recipe egg nog.   And I don't think she would have it any other way.  

I can remember Christmases a long long way back.   As a kid I loved toy soldiers.  Every  year I got a fort set.  A fort set was what I wanted every year.  I got the Alamo, Fort Apache, Fort York.   I even got a whole D Day beach landing.   I loved my war toys on what was to be the most peaceful day of the year.  

When I was five,  I got a Mountie uniform.  Red Coat, riding britches, felt hat, boots, and a sam browne.  I wore it to school one day and a couple of other grade ones got after me and drug me into the bathroom where they were gonna sort the cop.  First time in my life I discovered not everyone supported law enforcement.   But I digress......

During those years my older sister had polio.  A great deal of her youth and adolescence were spent in the Hospital in Edmonton and Calgary.  She wasn't home for a few Christmases.  We spent a couple of Christmases with my dad's aunt in Edmonton and my sister was able to come over for the day.  One year we spent Christmas in a motel in Calgary.  Some other relatives took me in for the day so mom and dad could spend some time with my sister.  The three always felt a certain amount of guilt about that.  In truth,  it was no big deal for me.  I had my Christmas presents and I took them to the relatives where I played with my new toys in the basement.  

 I was a cop for a long long time and worked a few Christmases.  Being a cop on a family holiday is a window into what Christmas isn't for many people.  I'm not talking about those who don't believe or celebrate Christmas.  I am talking about those who observe what Christmas is for those who have material wealth.  For those who have family with addictions.   For those who don't have any family to share the holiday.  But through it all I loved Christmas.  Just about everything about it.  And I learned some things about the celebration.  

Christmas is a religious holiday.  Modern Christmas has also become a holiday for those who don't believe.  It is a time of peace, appreciation, joy, that kind of touches everyone.   It is a combination of numerous festivals that include evergreen trees, lights, and feasts.  It even encompasses other Christian feasts,  such as the Feast of Stephen.  

I have family who do not celebrate Christmas.  They are far more faith oriented than I.  They just don't believe Christmas is relevant and that was just something I couldn't understand.   In truth I felt sorry for them.  I wasted my sympathy.  My family has a fulfilled happy life with strong community support.  And that is a huge part of our Christmas holiday they don't need to celebrate.

It is hard not to be Judgey at times.  Although I am no theologian,  I am pretty sure that judging is the one piece of God's work he kept for himself.   So I have difficulty understanding posts on social media that pronounce  " In this house we say MERRY CHRISTMAS we don't say HAPPY HOLIDAYS". If you're one of those people,  well I may be severing ties.   I'll have to take my chances.  I just don't see how including those of other faiths who are celebrating the season is some kind of threat to those who are honouring the birth of the most inclusive person to ever walk the earth.  How do you get angry over wishing someone happiness during the season of peace and sharing?  Is Christmas only for the worship of the Messiah?  Does Santa know about this?  If someone wishes you a Happy Holiday, don't be offended.  That is someone who has a different belief who is sincerely wishing you happiness for your holiday.  

Public funding supported by everyone gives people the right to refuse religious symbols such as the Nativity being paid for with tax dollars.  Doesn't mean you can't have a nativity at your church,  or your home.  No use in lamenting that Christians no longer get to bully people of how many other faiths into observing their beliefs. 

Being happy and festive makes it extremely difficult for someone to remain cranky.   Of course there are exceptions.  But usually being around happy positive people make it very difficult for others not to absorb some of that spirit.  I know all of you,  my valued on line therapists, have examples to the contrary.  But you also know if you hang in there,  that kindness and happiness is every bit as contagious as moodiness.

Giving should be anonymous.   I'm not talking about the stuff under the tree.  I am talking about those who could use a boost this time of year.   Why do I say this?  Well not everyone who could use a little help at Christmas are in perpetual need or lazy or scammers.   Especially in a boom and bust economy like ours in this corner of my home and native land people who work hard can easily find themselves in vulnerable economic situations.  They don't need the humiliation of someone more fortunate feeling good about themselves for being so generous to "the needy."  I have found that keeping the giving all to yourself can be like the most Chtristmassey feeling ever.  

Roll with the punches.  This Christmas here in my home and native land there is a shortage of ......wait for it...... SUGAR.  It has to do with a strike at Western Canada's major sugar producer.   We went to purchase sugar yesterday.  Three major Grocers in our town of fifteen thousand people and no sugar to be found.  I love a quest.  I was, after all an investigator for 34 years.   So I made trips to the drug stores...nada....and then I did convenience stores..... I found one kg. and bought it.  I then turned to gas stations,  and I found brown sugar in one,  and white sugar in another  Paid way too much,  but now we have sugar for the entire year.  A whole five kgs.   Thing is,  I was on a quest cause I was sure I could find sugar.  We had already decided that sugar or lack thereof was not a stress we were prepared to take on.   It was decided the baking at chez Mclean this year would be Vootman gingerbread people that came in bags.   We learned to roll with the punches many years ago when my dad's oven malfunctioned on Christmas day and we ate appies from Christmas Eve for our Christmas dinner.  

Cause in truth,  the sweetness of Christmas has nothing to do with sugar, or turkey, or cookies.  Those are all wonderful things.  It has to do with the fact we can look around and marvel at what we have and with whom we share it.    Merry Christmas,  Season's Greetings, and Happy Holidays.