Christmas
I don’t know why but as soon as the Christmas tree goes up and we put on the lights and the decorations….I’m five again….
Christmas was special from the time my brother and sister wrapped me up in a blanket to play baby Jesus in a nativity play they put on for mum and dad…until… well, every Christmas since….and the waiting and the rituals around waiting also made it special…funny things like buying the Radio Times and TV Times…to see what special films would be on over Christmas…checking the lights still worked…they usually didn’t…mum’s mice pies…giving the house a special clean…using special china and glasses….
The magic of the flashing lights…the baubles on the tree… red and green garlands…paper chains in our bedrooms…singing carols in harmony as a family…as kids…going out carolling when we were older…choosing the colour of the gift-wrap you’d use…even writing the cards…it was all somehow special…and somehow even now it still is….even down to the chore of writing the thank-you notes to the aunts and uncles who gave you presents…
This year I’ve made puddings and mincemeat and I’m feeding the cake with a bottle of whisky. Whilst I write the cards I usually play Messiah….one of those early recordings of the Basil Lamb edition that restored all those thrills and trills to the oratorio….
At primary school I remember making an Advent calendar with bits of old Christmas cards…and as an altar boy I remember the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. Christmas Eve was still a fast day…like Good Friday and Ash Wednesday when I was little. I also remember going to my first Midnight Mass and after Mass we would go and see the crib and light candles…
It always seemed a happy time…even when money was short…the dark nights were warmed by genuine family love…and I hope I never lose that warm feeling….
It was in Redborne…I remember my brother telling me there was no Santa…. and my sister carefully removing the Sellotape off the Huntley and Palmer’s biscuit tin and giving me a chocolate biscuit from the second layer….and then as carefully putting it back….and the three of us looking in mum’s and dad’s wardrobes for hidden presents….but nothing to be honest spoiled the surprise or the wonder…rather it seemed to enhance the magic…
And then we had what mum and dad called Little Christmas on the 6th January…the feast of Epiphany…the three kings…when we’d have another special meal and then together we’d all help take down the decorations…the house always seemed so much bigger after the decorations were taken down….
So, the tree is done…it looks really great this year…I’ll put a photo up once we’re done…and I’ll do my cards tomorrow….
I’m pleased as punch to be five again for twelve short days each year….