The count down ... begins

Christmas is round the corner! Christmas is almost here!

Lets see what thoughts I have for Christmas this time around.

#1) The sermon last weekend was quite true, preaching about the commercialism of Christmas now, and how it has been replaced with Happy Holidays/Merry Xmas. Where the word Christmas seems to be something of an embarassment where we have to feel apologetic. Hah! Bah humbug! Consumerism and capitalism has hijacked the true spirit of Christmas and replaced it with buy buy buy spend spend spend! In a way I can understand why this is so...in a time where traditionally people buy gifts for their loved ones, shops probably feel hey look since you are going to buy SOMETHING anyway, why not buy from...us? But we must not forget the true spirit of Christmas, which to my ignorant eye, would be more along the lines of being a time of giving, a time of celebrating the birth of Jesus (although Dec 25 wasn't actually his birthday at all, but was instead a significant date on the paganistic calendar that the early Christians hijacked due to it being easier for pagans to switch over since they were already rejoicing on this date) etc. This is a chance to envelope ourselves in His presence, His birth. The magic and mystery of the coming of God's physical representative. I still remember nativity scenes and plays with a shiver.

#2) I would struggle to think of good idea for gifts, but I guess I can only pray to know what to get for my loved ones. For all good things come from above, do they not, and not really from 'me', so I shall not worry so much.

#3) I remember Christmas carols. I remember my favourite Christmas songs, White Christmas, Silent Night, O Holy Night, just to name but a few.

#4) Christmas plays in early primary school! Gosh...the nostalgia..the magic..bells..sleighbells in the snow..*shudders*..with cotton..bells (from Parkson)..costumes..little innocent children..

#5) My father's death. He died around Christmas time over 20 years ago, and I remember vivdly going into hospitals circa that era and seeing Christmas trees everywhere, with white cotton draped all over fake Christmas trees, ornaments, those golden balls, lights twinkling, presents wrapped underneath. Christmas trees and a nice fire by the furnace has always been a staple in my wonderful imagined world, and Christmas trees are an ESSENTIAL, and the right tree just generates the RIGHT mood, and placed near a crackling fireplace, with yellow lights, and the whole room dark, and socks above the fireplace, it is just magic. Though Santa would need fireproof clothes. So Christmas trees are bittersweet for me...can never totally divorce myself from its association with my earth father's death.

#6) Have always always ALWAYS wanted to celebrate a real Christmas in England, with a nice fireplace, a crackling fire, real wooden logs, a pair of tongs placed beside the fireplace, lovely red socks with white cotton edges placed sideways above the fireplace, a mantel, a Christmas tree twinkling silently beside, presents underneath, room lights switched off and illuminated only by the night lights outside the window and the fire and the Christmas tree lights, and outside when I press my face against the cold frosted window (hence my nose leaving a mark on the window) I see snowflakes. Will experience this before I die, this I will promise to myself. Resolved to spend Christmas eve in certain specific cities b4 I die as well.

Ah...ho ho ho ... just a few more days now!