Christmas down here

New traditions and old, and my gift

I have no particular traditions on Christmas. I was born Jewish and we did pretty much nothing; it was a day off. I think we ate some Chinese food, but in my memory that was more a “break the fast on Yom Kippur” tradition. We had no tree, no Hanukkah bush, no presents, no Santa Claus, no running down stairs in jammies, no family breakfast. My brother said he remembers waiting for Santa to pass us by. Jews love dark humor.

We did light Hanukkah candles¹, but the gifts were not usually spectacular. Sometimes nice things, sometimes socks. So my memories of Christmas past, with all the attendant family activities is like many of my tribe. And still today, I know many Jews, and Israelis, who spent the holiday doing holiday things, meaning travel or enjoying free time while the rest of the goy world does the Christmas mania thing.

One year I spent time before Christmas, not the holiday itself but during the season, in Thailand for a close friend’s wedding—really they are like family. The more bourgeois places in Bangkok, like the Siam Paragon mall, were decked out in spectacular fashion. There was a seven-story Christmas tree, Santas, elves and all kinds of lights and decorations. But if you asked the average Thai person there, they would not know the meaning of the holiday beyond it’s what westerners do, so they make the most of it.

In Japan, the rage is to go to KFC and get a bucket of chicken. For some reason that nobody knows (ok, somebody knows, I’m sure, and will put it in the comments), fried chicken became the “what Americans do” therefore the proper way to celebrate Christmas, western style. There are not many Christians in Japan, and even fewer Japanese Christians. Most Japanese could not tell you the scripture or story of the birth of Christ, only that it’s a big holiday in the west.

When I became a Christian, I didn’t really know what to do with Christmas. My family still didn’t do anything, and I was living in Georgia, far from them. I would go to friend’s homes and celebrate with them. I’d find some Christmas Eve service at a church and go. I’d go up to the mountains. One year, I went to Amicalola Falls and just enjoyed nature.

Then I got married into a family that really dug Christmas and got into it. I don’t mind putting up the lights (lights is my thing). We’ve done the “real tree” thing a few years. Lately we have a Home Depot tree that we can take out, decorate, and put back in just an hour or so. It looks as good as a real tree to me, without the hassle and fire risk. We have presents under the tree, like regular Christian families, and the kids enjoy opening the gifts. Now that they’re teenagers, we don’t do the pre-dawn thing (thank God). We might open one gift on Christmas Eve because that’s how my wife’s family did it.

I am building traditions for our kids, is how I see it. They get to have their memories. We still light Hanukkah candles (the holiday just ended Sunday night), but no gifts or “gelt.” They know I am still noncommittal about the whole thing.

I am quick to realize (I’m going to offend some, sorry) that Christ the savior was likely not born in the winter, never mind on December 25th. It’s most likely he was born in the spring, when the shepherds were in the field. The Christmas recounting in the Bible doesn’t say when.

It doesn’t matter when. December 25th is as good a day as any to celebrate the savior’s birth. There is only one place in the Bible where a great company of the heavenly host appeared to anyone, preceded by an angel announcing “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” There is one overriding feeling all over the world, that is the spirit of Christmas: joy.

Yes, not everyone feels joy. Some have terrible tragedies that mar the holiday. Some have family arguments and stress. Some couples have to shuttle from one dinner to another to keep the in-laws happy. Some children of divorced parents get passed around, trying to squeeze the best gifts from both sides. Some people have to work.

One year, I spent Christmas visiting the ICU. It’s both eye-opening and humbling.

As someone whose Christmas has evolved from nothing at all, to the Biblical pedant, to the family man, the constant has always been joy. To those who believe, keep your eye on who is being celebrated. To those who don’t, glean the joy as best you can, and make your own traditions—or revel in the ones you learned when you were a child.

I find one of the best ways to raise the joy level is to sing. There’s all kinds of Christmas songs, from Paul McCartney (“Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime”) to Tom Petty (“Christmas All Over Again”), to the traditional carols and classical holy music (“Ode to Joy”).

One of my favorite Christmas songs is by Down Here, called “How Many Kings.” It always gets me in the heart. Christmas is a time for great joy, only because of what the King of Heaven did for me. I leave you with this to listen as they share. This is my tradition on this website, and my gift of joy to you, such wonderful readers and friends. I’ll return after Christmas. Have a Merry one!

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1. Hanukkah has nothing to do with Christmas. I’m sure you know that, as our readers are generally well-informed. But culturally, Jews take refuge in Hanukkah in Christian countries to avoid the whole religious thing while sharing the joy of the season. They are linked in that regard.