There are so many traditions surrounding Christmas and Saint Nicholas. Shoppers rushing around looking for the perfect gifts for loved ones and friends, singing carols, baking cookies, decorating our homes, spending time with friends and family. Strolling through Colonial Williamsburg all decked out in true colonial fashion while the Fife and Drum Corps march down Duke of Gloucester Street. Driving through neighborhoods to see the Christmas lights…. sipping hot chocolate as we ooh and ahh at the various decorations and displays. Cooking favorite recipes from both sides of my family to tantalize the tastebuds. And one of my favorite traditions – after Christmas Eve mass my Daddy would read The Night Before Christmas to me and my brother. Afterward we put out egg nog and cookies baked by Mama for Santa before heading to bed. We could barely fall asleep because we were giddy with anticipation for Santa’s arrival! So many Christmas traditions and way too many to mention here! These traditions are rooted in Christmas spirit. Without the spirit of Christmas these traditions are meaningless.

So what is Christmas Spirit? I reflect on the true meaning of Christmas – God loved the world so much he gave the greatest gift of all – the birth of his only Son. I think of the carols and reflect on the words… Joy to the World the Lord has Come! ….Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men! I see people greeting each other with smiles and a “Merry Christmas!” We give to others with generosity from the heart and not necessarily from the wallet. We give to family, friends, and in the spirit of St. Nick – to those less fortunate. Christmas, a celebration of love, brings out the best in us. We seem to become better humans around Christmas – generosity and kindness abound. Remember the Christmas truce of World War I? In 1914 enemies sang Christmas carols together and wished each other a Merry Christmas. Even enemies could show compassion and love to one another in the true spirit of Christmas, if only for a day. What if we lived in the spirit of Christmas all year long?

We can get caught up in the busyness of the season and forget what Christmas is all about. We can forget to take the time to enjoy the beautiful moments the season has to offer. I recently read that as we get older our Christmas wish list gets shorter and the things we really want in life can’t be bought. I’ve learned that what I cherish most are the moments around the Christmas tree, not what was placed beneath it. Christmas comes once a year, but we can have the spirit of Christmas in our hearts all year long. In the words of Ebenezer Scrooge,

“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.”

As I walked the dogs this morning there was a peace and quiet all around. No cars on the roads. No people out and about. The children were all still inside enjoying the gifts left under the tree. The quiet overwhelmed me and the true spirit of Christmas filled my heart. Peace. Love. Compassion. These are gifts we can extend to each other every day of the year.

With these words I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas – one filled with the spirit of the season!

Lori