Editorial: Christmas Traditions, Simple Places

I thought I would share of some of the Christmas traditions we have entered into, in our home and family time.

Christmas, many will agree, is especially marketed to children these days, however, it's truth has nothing to do with children frantically opening boxes of gifts, set aside so quickly they have no time to truly appreciate the thought behind the offering.

In our early years of being married, my wife Colleen and I attempted to start a new Christmas tradition of making a wooden fence rail type stall or stable in the corner of our living room. This we would decorate with tinsel, bows and lights to make it a central feature, with these relatable items. In the middle we placed a box manger and a little doll to represent the Christ child. In subsequent years we got a better baby doll, better rails and a wooden manger offered by my mother and father in-law. It was actually made by Colleen's father, when they first started out as parents, for her and her brother, to use as baby's respectively. This cradle reminded me of the Walton's and their ingenuity as they fashioned what was needed throughout their lives. A simple wooden cradle brought a sense of family continuity and identification into Christ's birthday celebration.

As time went on, we had our first boy, many of you know him now, as the young man James Joseph, interacting in our community. In his second Christmas experience, we were at my parents house in Greenbank, and many of our relatives were there, including my brothers Shawn and Michael, and my sister Veronica. Needless to say, the house was abuzz with people, a then time came to open gifts. We were the first among the cousins and siblings to have a child, so as J.J. attempted to open the gift laid in front of him he was on display and a bit puzzled as to what to do. Impatience took hold quickly, and one of my siblings met him in his space on the floor and started to rip the paper off the box and open it up to show him the gift inside. However, his face fell in disappointment, as he liked the wrapping and the box in tact, and was startled by the show of enthusiasm. Another was placed before him, and in the same fashion, with expressions of celebration, assistance was given to him by another, and the gift was torn open and set aside quickly for the next. It took very little time and he was in tears, reaching for his mother. We had to intervene and motion to all around, this was not the way. What was meant for pleasure brought withdrawal and confusion over what this was all about. I can't help but think how many children are taught to miss the point the same way.

Today we have replaced the frenzy with giving to the needs around the world, such as the World Vision, Gospel for Asia, (Ministries which dig wells, provide water filtration systems and medical assistance, build housing, orphanages and schools, offering everyone possible with education, supply men and women with farming equipment, livestock and training, so they may all make a life going forward. Another ministry we have become involved with is Oksana's Harvest (a Ukrainian orphanage support ministry more necessary today than ever) The gifts these people receive are far better than the pretty wrapping and neat boxes of trinkets of James' childhood. What a way to grow!

One Christmas season, many years ago, our family went to an outdoor interactive theatrical event called 'A Walk to Bethlehem” put on by the Church of the Nazarene in Pefferlaw. It is a hike through the lanes of a trailer park completely done up as the countryside leading to Bethlehem. Once there, one becomes vicariously accepted as a member of a Jewish family. walking the roads to Bethlehem during the Roman census at time of Christ's birth.

As a group you are led by a family leader narrating the scene at each station and warning of the dangers, from Roman soldiers and thieves out to take advantage of the newcomers, along the way. There are moments to sample genuine bread baking on an open fire, drachma exchange is offered for the purchase of food, fine silks, and woven garments.

Songs are sung from Jewish tradition, and scripture from scrolls are read reminiscent of the Messiah's coming. After these establishing scenes, set at various stations along the way, we came upon a manger scene, where angles celebrated the birth of Christ, attended by live shepherds with sheep and actors portraying Mary and Joseph in a stable. After respectful time, our family leader moved us on to subsequent stations.

Everyone in the park was dressed in period costumes, including the Roman soldiers who attempted to accost and humorously harass the participants. The paths lead back to a place where a large number of soldiers are revelling and shouting to each other, around a roaring fire, over the rumoured birth of a new King which Herod is up in arms about.

It is quite the exploration and involves a bit of a trek. Each station provides progressively greater insight into what the people around Christ's birth would have been living like. Eventually we came to a station where the family leader said, “Now we approach Jesus at around 30 years old,” In my son Christopher's usual fashion, when things are beyond what he expected, he found the humour and quipped, “30 years old, how long have we been walking?”

This was the last station before we went in for hot chocolate, offered across the road in the basement of the church. It was a very interesting event filled with many warm affirming memories.

In a recent Christmas season we visited a similar walk, through the woods of a local ministry and supported by community churches, in Woodville.

Christmas Traditions can start in the most simple of places. There are many things we can add to the simple gift exchange, to bring meaning and memories connected with the birth of our Saviour. Let's do it up right.

Happy Seasoning!