Merry Christmas To All

The Russian Orthodox Christmas isn’t until January 7th but that didn’t stop me from getting a Christmas lecture from a Russian. She asked me what was wrong with my country that we say “happy holidays” and proudly declare there is a decorated “holiday tree” rising above the White House lawn. I tried to explain we were just being sensitive to other religions but that drew an even stronger rebuke.

Later the thought occurred to me that she had a point. There is nothing wrong with celebrating Christmas without concern for political correctness, because one can’t deny Christmas is a significant day of reverence in the Christian religion, just as many other holidays and celebrations are for other religions. To attempt to make Christmas an inclusive holiday misses the point of December 25 by a wide margin.

Tonight the malls and Main Streets fall silent. The ringing cash registers and the happy cries of children are but ghostly echoes across silent streets. But the Christ born in a manger 2,000 years ago lives; liberating the hearts of sinners and transforming the lives of many. It should come as no surprise that hundreds of millions of people in this country and indeed around the world derive comfort from this fact. In and of itself, the celebration of the birth of Christ should be enough to keep the PC police at bay for at least one day.

But if we want the holiday to be all things to all people – and isn’t that the goal of all social engineers today? – then let’s speak of another miracle of Christmas that’s worth celebrating. Beyond the Christian religion overtones, the day brings families and friends together; sometimes for a rare visit, other times for the last time (if only we knew). It brings so many lasting memories and traditions that Christmas has virtually kept the family at the center of our society, if only for one day.

My earliest memory of Christmas created a family tradition in the old Arno home and continues on into the new Arno home. For 45 years members of my family have opened presents on Christmas Eve for no other reason than Peter, Bill and I were too excited to see what Santa left us and saw no reason why we had to wake our parents to share the booty. Needless to say there were looks of shock on Jeanne and Doug’s faces when I nudged my dad to help me button up my authentic Confederate army uniform (Peter got the Union outfit as my parents always loved him best). The next year, we were told Santa came early – roughly 9 p.m. Later, Santa got a boost as my parents did a little shopping for him and Christmas presents were opened after dinner. Man, could my mom wash the dishes slowly, or what?

I came to view opening presents in the darkness of Christmas Eve as part of the charm. When we were older and taking our time and enjoying the thought that went into each present we passed around to each other, the blinking lights on the tree, the ever present television blaring, and a full stomach became as much a part of our family tradition as anything else. Which isn’t to say any other way is the wrong way, it was only our way of keeping our family together and happy – even if I never got everything I wanted.

Like all good traditions, it’s important to keep them going and when I grew up (yes, I did eventually grow up), I had a family of my own. Mrs. Laz wanted to stick to her tradition of opening presents on Christmas morning and I still wanted my presents on Christmas Eve … errr … I wanted the kids to open their presents on Christmas Eve. Three kids in the house eventually won out and after a few very early mornings for Mr. and Mrs. Claus, it didn’t take much fancy footwork on my part to get Mrs. Laz to agree to the much better post-dinner exchange of presents; with or without Santa.

Of course the joy of giving becomes secondary to spending love and joy with those close to you. It won’t be long before our children begin their Christmas tradition and we, as parents and grandparents, will become loving bystanders to new customs. It won’t be quite the same for us but at least I won’t have to assemble anything.

All of this is to say that I wish all my family and friends a very Merry Christmas with the hope you are surrounded by the biggest gift of all; the family. Keep your traditions close and your families closer. Love each other just a bit more, eat a bit less, and set a place at the table for those who won’t be with us after choosing instead to sit with the one person who got all this started 2000 years ago.