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Heartwings Love Notes 1012 - Tis the Season

Heartwings says, "The Joys of the season fill all hearts with light."

I'd know it was the season without a word from anyone by the enormous quantity of catalogues that have been arriving in the mail. Or if not by the catalogs, by the appeals for donation that have proliferated, both in the mail and in my email. Perhaps it might be called "the season of giving." Gifts, given and received seem to be the theme these days of the season between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.

I have done research on the origins of the season for my writing, and I believe it was the Roman tradition, or perhaps a Celtic one where people used to tie gifts to the branches of a tree as part of the seasonal celebration. The bringing of a tree into the home evolved from the desire to have greenery from evergreens in the home, thus invoking good luck and the blessings of nature spirits. So many of our traditions stem from pagan times, yet it is the spirit of the celebration that makes it important and meaningful, not the source or the cause.

Different cultures have evolved their own ways to honor the season of light and giving. Families, too, embrace different ceremonies and traditions that bring them together to join hands and hearts. I was asked which tradition was my favorite. I thought a moment and the image of Christmas stockings came to mind. Yes, how special it was for me when I was able to participate in the giving of stocking presents. Small and useful items were the rule in my family, and often little jokey inscriptions were written on the wrappings. What fun it was to shop in the "dime" store for cold cream, pencils, and other little gifts for my parents' stockings.

We didn't have fancy Christmas stockings; we used what we had. I remember my father owned some tall, grey argyle golf stockings we made use of, and old nylons that had runs served that purpose too. Santa never gave the gifts beneath the tree. Those were opened on Christmas eve after some tasty food and the singing of carols. My mother had brought candle holders with her from Germany, that clipped to the branches of the tree. A bucket with water and a mop were kept nearby in case of fire, but never had to be used. How lovely the lit white candles looked as we sang, my mother playing her violin to guide us.

Christmas paper was saved from year to year. The use of tape was strictly forbidden, ribbon was tied around the packages and that too was saved, carefully wound up and fastened. Too, there was crinkled metallic tinsel that reflected the light and bowed the branches in a graceful way. It was carefully removed as it had been strung, strand by strand. It too was always saved for another year's decoration. These are the kinds of things that a child remembers, not the gifts, nor who gave them. Individual and family traditions are what are important, both for the memories they create and the ties they provide to our pasts and to one another.

May your season of light fill you with happiness and bring you peace.

Got any easy recipes to share? Food stories to tell? I so appreciate your comments and thoughts. Please write to me at tashahal@aol.com, and for more love notes, check out www.heartwingsandfriends.com. Thanks!
 

I love to hear from readers and would be honored if you would comment and let me know any suggestions or thoughts. If a friend sent you this, you can sign up at my web site, www.heartwingslovenotes.com, where more love notes can be found in the archives.

Blessings and Best Regards,
Tasha Halpert
 

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