Is The Magic of Christmas Real?

Do you think the magic of Christmas is real?  Reflecting back to when I was a kid brings back memories of joy and adventure.  I loved Christmas!  As each month went by I would get more and more excited that December was nearing.  I couldn’t wait for that special night when Santa would come and visit our home.  I’d wonder what presents would be left for me under the tree and I hoped that I had been good enough to make the nice list.

There wasn’t the Elf on the Shelf during the time that I was growing up but there were still many fun and time tested traditions.  Right after Thanksgiving the hunt for the best Christmas tree was on!

We didn’t ever cut down a tree, but would make the all exciting trip to the neighborhood tree lots.  We’d look through rows and rows of trees until we found just the right one.  Tying it onto the top of our car we would hurry home to put it in its place of honer and loving string the light and hang the balls just so.  We had the big, kinda of loud, shimmery garlands and of course ice cycles to make the illusion of a winter snowfall on laden tree bows.

Christmas Eve

As Christmas week approached sleeping would become more and more difficult.  I’d lay awake and imagine how I could sneak a peek at the jolly old elf on Christmas Eve night.  Just like in the stories, I’d listen to hear if I could catch a sound of the reindeer’s bells jingling and picture a giant sleigh precariously perched on the roof hoping that it wouldn’t slide off.

We didn’t have a house with a fireplace, so I was sometimes worried about how Santa was going to get into our home.  But, I figured Santa’s magic, right?  So he could do anything that he wanted to.

And I’d soon lose my concerns and move onto bigger things like what was going to be for Christmas dinner?  If I worked it just right I knew I could sneak a deviled egg or a cookie off the plate before anyone had become the wiser.

My Letter to Santa

Sometimes as a shy kid, it was hard for me to tell Santa personally what I wanted for Christmas.  When our family would go to the mall I would always hang back and not dare to sit on the great man’s lap.  Talk about shy! How would he know what I wanted for Christmas?   I had to make sure he did, so I wrote him a long detailed letter.  Then I diligently dropped it in the mailbox addressed to the North Pole.  I took extra care to write neatly in big scrolling print so there would be no mistake as to the destination.  And gave a sigh of relief knowing that it was safely on it’s way.

 

But, you know what, he always ended up knowing, letter or not.  Little did I know that my parents had a direct pipeline to Santa.  So of course, everything would end up turning out alright.   And I was never disappointed even if I didn’t always get the exact item on my list.

Holidays Are What We Make Them

So, is the magic of Christmas real?  Well, as parents we try to make the holidays a wonderful and festive time for our kids and family.  Now that I’m older, looking back I realized that regardless of the amount of presents under the tree the magic of Christmas is really a compilation of many small things that are weaved together to transform the whole Christmas experience into a fantasy moment.

As a kid, we didn’t have that much growing up but it ended up not making one bit of difference.  Of course Christmas morning was fun and tearing the wrapping off the gifts might have seemed like the best part, but it was actually the anticipation, projects, cooking and a thousand other little things that made Christmas the magic it was.  We found the magic of Christmas in the closeness we had as a family and the pleasure we took in each other’s company.

My grandmother and Uncle would come over and our family would laugh and hoot as we had wicked card tournaments reveling in the victory of winning the evening card games.  We’d sit around and tell jokes, put on little shows and tell funny stories.  And of course sing songs that were only dragged out once a year, dusted off, and screech the lyrics at the top of our lungs.

We were very sure that the music had never been performed so well and raved praises while the singer would blush and glow in the limelight of being the center of attention.

Building Memories

These memories bring back a warm, fuzzy feeling when remembering Christmas past. Yes, the magic of Christmas was a very real thing and one that everyone can enjoy if the right priorities are focused on.

In today’s world it sometimes seems like the price tag can be the most important thing.  Are this year’s gifts bigger, more expensive and sleeker?  Our time is more rushed, we squeeze more into each hour of our day.  Then we end up burning out.  And like the mystical Phoenix of legend, we rise again and do it all over the next day.

It’s time to have a “reset” and stop to enjoy the magic of Christmas as it was meant to be.  Bigger price tags don’t equate to a better Christmas.  What is important is the time spent with family and friends.  Building memories that count and are permanent.

Unplug And Reset

The magic of Christmas is being open to the fun of the gilts and glitter.  The ugly sweaters and silly songs.  Let’s turn off the electronics long enough to actually look each other in the face and enjoy a conversation.  Maybe try reconnecting to someone that you haven’t seen for a while or try out that new recipe that you never seem to have enough time to experiment with.

I am ever grateful for my Christmas past.  Is the magic of Christmas real?  You bet it is!  The magic is found within all the little moments and touches that bring us closer.  But it’s up to us.  We have to be open to allowing ourselves to become immersed in the season.  Opening up to possibilities can make our smiles bigger and our laughter deeper.  Regardless of where we are or what we have it’s the frame of mind that makes the magic of Christmas real.  I invite you to look for the magic.  You may be very surprised just how real it is.

Merry Christmas!