Christmas Cards

So, I was just curious...how many of you actually send out Christmas cards? Am I the only one who doesn't participate or hasn't ever participated in this tradition? It's not that I think it's dumb, but it's kind of, well, dumb. Don't get me wrong, I love receiving cards from people. It's nice to know someone is thinking of you. And maybe that's the point, which isn't so bad, and makes the whole thing seem a little more worthwhile. And the ones that are just cards aren't too bad - they're rather nice to get actually. And maybe I could see myself sending this type out at some point in the future. The ones that I think are funny (and a little silly) are the ones that take you on a journey through the year of whoever sent you the card and their family. If it's someone I care about I usually know the stories already, and if I don't care that much about them (how mean does that make me sound?!), then it seems a bit wierd. I do, however, love reading them. Some of the funniest things I read are by self (and or family) promoting individuals trying to make minor incidents and accomplishments sound very intense and highly enviable. I'm not saying people should stop doing this if it makes them happy, and I'm not saying that I want to stop receiving any cards. I'm just expressing the same confusion I always feel at this time of year with regards to this activity. I promise I'm not attacking those of you who fall into this catagory, so please don't feel the need to defend yourselves. Really, you can continue to send cards and letters, as long as I can continue to be confused. (On a totally non-Christmas related tangent, I also don't really understand sending out birth announcements.) Am I completely alone in this sentiment? I guess if you're wanting a Christmas card from me, instead of waiting by your mailbox, just go back and read all my blog posts from this year. Because that's really what a blog is, a never-ending Christmas card full of all the ups, downs, and self-promoting you can handle. So from me to you, etcetera etcetera and so forth on the blog posts, and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

What's Your Favorite?

One of the best things about this time of year are the books, songs, movies, etc. that you finally feel justified in enjoying. You could listen to Christmas music any time of year, but who wants to do that? Part of what makes this season so special and fun is the enjoyment of these holiday treats that we wait all year for.

My favorite Christmas book is A Christmas Carol. Many many years ago I got the idea from my brother to read it, and I have read it every Christmas since. It's incredible. If you've never read it you really should. There are some beautifully written thoughts and ideas in it. Many of which are usually kept in some form or another in the movies, plays, etc. of this story. A couple of my favorite quotes are also a couple of the best known, and both are spoken by Jacob Marley as he visits with Scrooge prior to the visit of the Three Spirits.

''Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!"

"At this time of the rolling year, I suffer most. Why did I walk through crowds of fellowbeings with my eyes turned down, and never raise them to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men to a poor abode? Were there no poor homes to which its light would have conducted me!"

While there are so many good songs to listen to, both traditional and new, it may seem hard to select just one as your favorite. Most of my favorites are in German, and many of them are only in German, like Es wird scho gli dumpa. But if I had to choose just one as my absolute favorite it would have to be Silent Night. I've always loved this song, but after serving in Austria it is permanently ingrained in me as special. Most of you know of its origins and that it was written in Austria (near Salzburg, in Oberndorf), but you may not know that it is such a special song over there that they only sing it on Christmas Eve. That's the only day that it's okay to sing it. That was hard for me since I love it, so on that day both years I was there I must have sung it about 20 times just to get my fill. It has such powerful imagery that I feel like I am there at the birth of the Savior when I listen to it. It has the ability like no other song to make the spirit of the season very palpable.

I love old movies. And I mean from as far back as the 30's. So it's no surprise that the movies I love to watch around Christmas are old black and white ones. As cheesy as they might be, I always want to watch them. I enjoy newer movies too, but my favorite is It's A Wonderful Life. Even though it's on TV all the time and people make fun of it, I love it.

So what are your favorite Christmas songs, books, and movies? Do you have a favorite quote from one of them? Please share! I love learning things like this about people.

Adventskrantz

One of the many many many many many things I loved about Christmas in Austria (seriously- no one does Christmas as well as Austrians and Germans- why do you think so many of our traditions here in America come from them? - they just can't be beat) was the Adventskrantz or Advents Wreath. They would have a wreath laying on a table with 4 candles placed along it. On each of the four sundays prior to Christmas they would light the candle / candles corrosponding to that sunday. So on the first sunday they would light one candle, on the second 2 candles, etc. And each time they did this they said a little poem. Here is a rough translation of the poem:

Advent, advent a small light burns

First one, then two, then three, then four

Then the Christchild is at your door.

A better translation of the last line would be that "now the Christchild has arrived" but this way at least it ryhmes a little. It sounds much better in German, trust me. There is a lot of symbolism to the Adventskrantz, but my favorite is true of all wreaths. The round image reminds us that Advent is a time to look both forwards and backwards, remembering the two comings of the Savior.

I just always liked anticipating the birth of the Savior rather than Santa Claus. I made my own Adventskrantz (the picture is not mine, but one I found online - computer woes, remember?) our first Christmas we were married, and do this every year with Eric and Emma. It's just another nice reminder of the real meaning of the season.

Why Complain or Take Offense?

It always bugs me this time of year when I hear about all the complaining about holiday greetings and whether it's PC to use them or not. Why does it matter? I know the arguments people use, but I just don't understand them. If someone is wishing you a happy or merry whatever, why get mad instead of feeling good? I've been wished a happy Hanukkah, happy Kwanzaa, Merry Christmas, & happy Holidays. I love all of them, even if I don't celebrate all of them. To me it doesn't matter. Most people celebrating any of these can feel the Spirit of the season, so their greetings and well wishes are meant well. I would love it if everyone celebrated for the same reason I do, but just because they don't doesn't mean I should criticize them or dismiss their traditions, just like I hope they'll let me celebrate for my reasons and not criticize me.