Christmas is almost upon us, and the dizzying speed many of us have been going is slowing down. We have been bombarded by end-of-year to-do lists, endless queues, tacky music and a general air of weariness that comes with the season. It is time to fight the post-Christmas blues and enjoy "a long, slow Christmas"¹ —a time to quieten our hearts and minds and celebrate the twelve days of Christmas.²
The Scholè Sisters recently released a new podcast titled Mom is the Magic of Christmas? It is so good. Mystie Winkler shares the following quote in it:
"If the husband is the head, then the wife is the heart of the family. The husband brings in the fruits of his labor, the wife distributes them according to each one's need; the husband gives, the wife receives…the husband lives in society, the wife lives in her family, the husband exercises power directed outward and influence directed inward, the wife exercises power directed inward and influence directed outward….she supplies the tone and texture of home life; with unequaled talent she magically transforms a cold room into a cozy place…she uses limited means to generate great things." [emphasis added]
Hermann Bavinck, The Christian Family (p. 95)
Mama, you supply 'the tone and texture of home life', and you 'magically transform' Christmas into a time of cosiness and beautiful memories.
Last week, our little co-op read The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree³ by Gloria Houston. This beautiful picture book is set in the Appalachian mountains and tells the story of little Ruthie's family. It is 1918, they have the honour of choosing the perfect Christmas tree for their church and Ruthie is to be the angel in the nativity play. Unfortunately, Ruthie's papa still hasn't returned from the war, and times are hard for the family. With limited means, Ruthie's mama magically creates "great things" (which you can read more about in the book).
Like Ruthie's mama, you are the heart of the family, and you can also work your magic during these twelve days; it doesn't take much.
First, how about catching up on that advent devotional you are behind on (speaking to myself here)?
Some other ideas:
Invite someone who has no one to celebrate the season with.
Sing carols by candlelight.
Eat special meals (one of our favourites is Austrian pancakes with chocolate ganache and homemade nut paste—the original Nutella sauce).
Make Christmas cookies, cake, or that gingerbread house you never have time for.
Share a plate(s) of cookies with a neighbour or friend.
Have a family game night. Our family have a tradition of getting a new board game for the new year.
Do some Christmas crafts, i.e. painted wooden disks, plasticine snowmen in snow globes (glass jars),
Watch Christmas movies.
We love to gather friends and family for carols, scripture reading, poetry and a story for the children. We open our home, make a jug of hot chocolate and a steaming pot of glühwein⁴, and our visitors bring a treat; memories are made.
Here is a copy of the program that we used this year. I have added a picture and composer study, but you do not have to do them. Pick and choose what you'd like to use: sing other carols, read other poetry. Remember, you are the heart of your family, and you can make magic by savouring the joys of life this Christmas.
¹ From the 25th of December to the evening of the 5th of January, called Epiphany (the coming of the Magi told in Matthew 2).
² The Circle of Seasons by Kimberlee Conway Ireton
³ Available on youtube
⁴ Glühwein Recipe (mulled wine German style)
Directions:
Pour natural sweet wine mixed with an equal portion of apple or grape juice into a a large pot. Add cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, cloves and star anise. Bring the mixture close to a boil. Add a few orange slices. Simmer for 30 minutes to a couple of hours. Strain and serve warm.
Note: you can also just use red grape juice if you don't drink wine.
(This is more of a guideline than recipe. Every family has a slightly different recipe).
Comments