Begin Christmas traditions with your family

We are apparently starting a new tradition in our family this year. I just received a call from my brother telling me that we are singing Christmas carols this year. Of course, these won't be the standard ones I learned as a child. No, these will be special. They are song parodies from television commercials.

We are big on tradition and invent new traditions every so often. Our favorite is the wrapping paper fight. We all hoard our wrapping paper and at some time during the unwrapping someone will hurl a well-placed wad of paper at someone. None of us can hit the broad side of a barn so we usually end up beaning someone quite different than whomever we aimed at. After that all bets are off as there will be paper flying from every direction. So far we haven't broken anything.

I understand that other people have different traditions. Some people carol; some man the Salvation Army kettles. Some people volunteer; some people don't. Most of us shop and shop and shop some more.

One of my favorite traditions is to set up the Nativity set. There is nothing inherently religious about the little figures. They are just bits of porcelain and paint. They are delicate little works of art.

Gracie, the calico cat is fond of the three wise men. She doesn't tip them over or rearrange them but almost every day she inspects and sniffs them. I would say it's because of the frankincense and myrrh but their gifts are as porcelain and lifeless as the tiny Magi. She ignores the other characters in the tableau.

It is the story behind the figurines that I treasure. A child is born. Not just any child but a savior. Who among us cannot use a savior now and again?

All children are precious. All children hold promise. This child was different. This was a child who changed the world. After all, it isn't every baby who is still talked about 2,000 years later. It isn't every child who inspires hoards of people to throng to the stores to buy things they can't afford just to show others . . . wait . . . just what are we celebrating here? Greed or something more?

Christmas is about greed and giving. It is secular and holy at the same time. It is pictures with Santa Claus, dressing up, bringing trees inside and decorating them with baubles. It is worship and remembering. Expectations are high. Disappointments are higher. Christmas is the best that we can be. Good will towards men and a shove out of the way to reach that special toy.

Mostly Christmas is tradition. It is ritual. It is the repetition of acts that give us joy and that give meaning to our lives. It is tradition to worship a newborn child; a savior. It is tradition to decorate our world with ribbons of red and lights of white. It is tradition to open presents on a certain day. And now, in addition to the wrapping paper fight, it will be our new tradition to sing all the wrong words to Christmas carols.[[In-content Ad]]