One of my favourite things about Christmas has always been stockings. After midnight Mass, we would sometimes come home and convince mom of our need to open them before bed.
She would fill them to overflowing with little things that made us laugh or groan. My oldest brother, Sean, always had a jar of olives, Paul got a chocolate-covered cherry, and Ryan would get jujubes. They were fun, but they also were a sign that we were each known and loved by our mom.
Spiritually, I loved the feeling that I was invited into something mystical, something not totally understood or accepted by the rest of the world: the birthday of God. I could imagine myself known and loved and invited to the side of the manger, warmed by the breath of animals and angels. There was candlelight and silence. And maybe the Christ Child would look at me.
I don’t think I would have worded it like that as a child, but it’s how I remember feeling. And so, curious about how my own children would word their feelings, I’ve asked them to tell me their favourite things about Christmas, in 100 words or less.
Andrew (16): One of my favourite things about Christmas is when, after we’ve all woken up, we sit and listen to our dad read the Nativity story in the beginning of the Gospel of Luke. Giving and receiving gifts, of course, is fun, as well as going to see family and friends.
Nicolas (15): I enjoy Christmas because we get a chance to spend time with all of our extended family. On Christmas Eve we all gather at my grandma’s house and eat food, open gifts, and reflect on all the things we are thankful for. I also love listening to ’40s Christmas music and watching ’40s Christmas movies.
Elijah (13): Christmas is my favourite holiday because I like Christmas Eve, when our family gets together and sings carols. I like seeing family members we wouldn’t see throughout the year. We also do a gift exchange. On Christmas morning we open stockings, then go to Mass. When we get back, we open more gifts. I really like buying gifts for my brothers and sister.
Madalen (11): I love starting the starting the Jesse tree (an Advent activity where the salvation story is told, one ornament at a time, starting with the creation of the world, the destruction of sin, the promise of a saviour, and the birth of Christ), and counting down to Christmas in Advent. I love buying gifts for my family and thinking about what would be the best thing for them. I also love going out and looking for the perfect Christmas tree. After we cut it down, we get hot chocolate and then go home to decorate it. I have a box of all my special Christmas ornaments. We get a new one in our stocking every year.
Isaac (9): I like putting up the Jesse tree and putting on the ornaments every day of Advent. I like waking up on Christmas morning, and when we go out, there are all of the gifts under the tree and the stockings are up! I like going to my grandma’s house on Christmas Eve and doing a gift exchange with my cousins. I like lighting Advent candles every Sunday of Advent and seeing the trees in the church. I also like that I can be an altar boy on Christmas with all of the trees on the altar.
Thomas (6): I love that I can spend the time with my family at Christmas Eve. I like that we get to be with all our friends. I like to put ornaments on the tree and go shopping for presents with my mom. I use my money to buy something for my brothers and sister. Christmas is special because it’s when Jesus is born. We give gifts to each other because we love God and we love each other.
I am full of gratitude for the truth, beauty, and goodness of Christmas. I pray you and your families will have a blessed celebration of Christ’s birth, one that is full of meaning and memories.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Is 9:6).
