Christmas Confession
Thoughts on Christmas & Traditions
Wishing you all a Happy & Belated Merry Christmas š š
My Christmas was filled with nonstop work and now a confession to make:
Christmas Passed Too Fast this Year for Me
By the time Boxing Day (26th) rolled around I realized I hadnāt even put up a tree, no decorations (I did however secure my first HK Christmas tree ornament, but no place to hang it), holiday baking was a flop (can you imagine itās near impossible to get graham cracker crumbs in Asia š© ).
It wasnāt a complete flop though
I was able to watch many of my favorite Christmas movies (or rather, fall asleep to) at the end of long work days.
Making it out a few times to see the Christmas lights of Hong Kong also has been one of my favorite light displays Iāve seen, trumping NYC, London and other large metropolisā.
My real Christmas present arrived early this year with my parents coming to visit me for 2 weeks from the end of November and into to Decemberā¦ after 1+ year apart it was easily the best present I could have received this year being able to reconnect and show them my new side of the world, which they fell in love with.
Upon reflecting on how Christmas passed me by so fast this year I was brought to remember how in my childhood the days of Dec 24, 25 & 26 were so distinct.
Maybe not all families have these traditions but for my growing up Christmas unfolded as follows:
24th: Christmas Eve was the start of the Christmas Holiday. Normally a half day, or short day at school. At nightfall mom would serve up a buffet of finger foods ranging from sausage rolls, blond brownies, pork pie, walnut fudge, pimento cheese sandwiches, mince pies and other delectables that would be easy to eat and share.
These were not to be touched though until my father gathered us all around the darkened living room, illuminated only by the lit Christmas tree whereby he would read us the Christmas story of the birth of Jesus Christ.
This would be followed by a time for every member of the family going around the room and reflecting on the past year, offering thanks and honoring the Savior who was born.
Following this, Christmas music would be put on, eating would commence and then gifts would be exchanged around the tree.
I know of some families that just mad dash and rip open presents but in my family one person would open, then the next and everyone would celebrate each gift each family member opened before moving on.
Christmas Eve was always such a meaningful time not just for the presents but for the Christmas story and close family time together
25th:
Christmas Day always started early.
Momās famous coffee cake was the star of breakfast.
I can still taste it right now as I write this. Fluffly yeasted-dough glazed with icing and warm slices, served in thick wedges along side coffee (or OJ when younger), breakfast sausage, eggs and bacon. This was only one time a year and the coffee cake is still legendary.
After which, family would gather and open Christmas stockings. These were smaller gifts, sometimes gag gifts, but always fun and meaningful.
After stocking time, there was a break while assembling the proper Christmas lunch.
Think āA Christmas Carolā Feast with a large goose, turkey or prime rib with all the trimmings and finishing with plum pudding and hard sauce. This was a time where formal dress was mandatory (as directed by my father, as a sign of respect for the family and also those who spent such hours preparing the meal).
Evenings were spent digesting the meal and relaxing before Boxing Day presented.
26th:
Boxing Day has long been a treasured day of relaxing in my family. Christmas leftovers are remade into a delicious meal (turkey pot pie, turkey tetrazini, beef keema with mash.. you get the idea) and more desserts like banoffee pie and chocolate pecan pie.
Growing up in the UK, Boxing Day was a national holiday and it was known for epic movies playing on the TV stations all day: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars, Superman, you name itā¦ it played on the TV.
Our family would spend the day relaxing, eating out and literally āveggingā after all the festivities to recover š
In contemplating all of this over the last 24 hours versus my experience this year I realized one thing:
My parents were steadfast and committed to maintaining these traditions over the years which are still precious memories for me.
How easy could it have been to skip a year, or tone things down during hard years when they had?
But yet, I never saw that ever.
Iām now taking this to heart for this upcoming year that itās my choice and charge to make my own christmas traditions and keep them annuallyā¦ just as they did for me as a child, teenager and even adult.
One of the movies Iāve enjoyed very much over the last few years is āThe Man Who Invented Christmasā, available on Amazon Prime free.
Itās the story of Charles Dickens and the writing of āThe Christmas Carol.
I find it a powerful drama that shows how much of Dickensā personal life influenced the writings and development of the character of Ebeneezer Scrooge that inevitably became one of the best selling books of all time.
It really resonated with me as I reflected on my lack of Christmas traditions this year.
The finish of the book talks about Scrooge āand it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God Bless Us, Every One!ā
As I plan for my Christmas 2025 I will no doubt remember my own family traditions and endeavour to keep Christmas well, and hopefully everyday š
God Bless you all, everyone!
God bless you and may God continue to bless your future Christmases to come