No, not at all like the 12 Days of Christmas which actually begin on Christmas Day and go through the night before Epiphany on January 6. Look up the reference, it will do you good.
It’s also why you can’t put your tree up before Halloween and take it down on December 26th.
I’m just sayin’.
The season we’re in now is Advent. It’s the time to anticipate the coming of the Christ Child.
I was having this conversation with a friend the other night. Remember when we used to actually anticipate Christmas and not dread its coming?
Remember when no one put up decorations before Thanksgiving and even Santa at the end of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade seemed to be rushing things?
Remember hours of pouring over the Sears and Roebuck Wishbook dreaming of all the wonderful toys, and the days of anticipation about what would actually end up under the tree?
We’ve done this to ourselves.
Just like those Black Friday sales that start on Thanksgiving. The stores are open because they know people will come out to shop for that “must have” bargain.
Seriously, is there really anything that you need that badly?
Need, not want.
Remember when Christmas was about the coming of the Christ Child and not about the lights and decorations and parties and spending money we don’t have?
Remember when we didn’t have to argue about coffee cups? Or when we didn’t have to explain for the umpteenth time that Xmas really isn’t “taking Christ out of Christmas?” Look up the reference, it will do you good.
When did our faith become about the commercialization of Christmas? When did we get so weak in what we believe that a store saying “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” was offensive and a threat to everything we hold dear?
The infant in the manger didn’t come to enhance your holiday shopping experience.
What? Did I go too far?
I love Christmas. I love Christmas traditions. I love the reason we celebrate.
But every year we get caught up in the Christmas rush.
Christmas will be here in a little more than three weeks. And, even though I’m not even doing a show this year, my calendar is full of work and theatre commitments.
Somewhere in there I have to get the leaves up, finish a script, finish decorating the house and figure out the whole present thing for the appropriate recipients.
But I’m hoping that somewhere in there I’ll still find time to stop and be still and remember why there’s a baby in the manger.
In other news, born on this day in 1945, American singer-songwriter, actress, and producer, Bette Midler.
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