Christmas memories can involve so many different things. Depending on your age, family lifestyle, religion, and other variables, Christmas nostalgia changes from one person to another.
My favorite Christmas memory details the time when I was ten years old. My older brother was twelve and my younger brother was only two. We had such fun ‘pretending’ for all the holidays since our ‘baby’ brother was so much younger than we were.
This particular Christmas Eve, my grandmother also lived with us. She and I shared a bedroom. She had gone to bed and my parents and small brother were also sleeping. Encouraged by my older brother, we decided to stay up until the presents could be seen under the tree. We played solitaire in his bedroom and tiptoed out to the tree, but never saw any sign of gifts. Fully aware of whom Santa Claus ‘really was’ we continued to wonder when our parents would put all the gifts and goodies out.
We continued our card playing marathon (we knew a zillion different kinds of solitaire), into the wee hours of the morning. At one point my grandmother came into my brother’s room and told us to go to bed, and go to bed NOW! I don’t recall doing it, but remember playing cards until I could no longer stay awake. We never did see the magic time when the presents arrived. And the next day was as glorious as always for kids at Christmas.
No doubt we were pretty sleepy the next day, but it didn’t matter. The fun on Christmas Eve made this a night I always remember. It’s a bit sad that we have to grow up and become adults, not able to return to the carefree days of childhood. But at least the memories live on, no doubt enhanced by time, and the fact that my relatives are no longer around.
Memories help us recall the awesomeness of the Christmas season, as well as the magic of childhood, hope and a baby born in a manger.