Beech Tree News Network

Christmas is near! I’ve been preparing for it – a little at a time – for weeks. Of course, Christmas is the time we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Like many of you during this season, I enjoy church services and family and/or friend gatherings. Yet sometimes, it’s the little things that put us in the holiday spirit.
Recently, two simple activities have revived my Christmas spirit. First, lighting a tea light candle for a nativity scene in the evening has brought the meaning of the season to mind regularly. Second, watching the Christmas tree lights has been peaceful and has reminded me that Christmas Day is near. Wondering what things make others feel the holiday spirit, I asked friends and family the following question: “Other than church and family, what is something (object, activity, event, etc.) that makes you feel like Christmas?” Their responses are listed below:
•    Sitting in the dark with only the lights of the Christmas tree and watching one of my favorite Christmas movies.
•    Black Friday shopping and decorating the house.
•    Seeing presents piled under the tree.
•    Having that cup of coffee while sitting on the couch with just the Christmas tree lights glowing.
•    Decorations and Christmas songs!
•    Christmas music.
•    Christmas music on the radio (which most people hate, but I love), Christmas lights on houses and in business windows, and when Ohio County High School puts out their nativity scene for the season.
•    Something that makes me feel like Christmas is eating fruit salad. One of my earliest Christmas memories was Daddy coming in with lots of different kinds of fruit all in paper sacks in the bed of his pickup truck. He must have bought it at a fruit stand because all the fruit was in paper bags as well as sacks of orange slices, peppermint sticks and chocolate drops. There would also be whole coconuts. Daddy would drill a hole in the coconut and drain the milk for Mom to use in making a fresh coconut cake (his favorite cake to this day). Then Mom would make a big bowl of fruit salad with all the fruits that Daddy had bought. The most special treat that he would buy was a carton of Coke (glass bottles). That was the only time we had soft drinks – at Christmas time. We always got at least one toy, but we knew Christmas Day was very soon when Daddy would come home with a truck load of fruit!
•    Christmas tree!
•    Christmas Eve candlelight service and my old, beat up nativity set from childhood.
•    The first thing that comes to mind is all of the Christmas lights.
•    I guess the only thing besides what you mentioned would be the music. Listening to the old Christmas songs makes it feel like Christmas.
•    I love Christmas music and listen to it from Thanksgiving until New Year’s Eve! I’m not fond of shopping, but I love to bake. It feels like Christmas to me when I turn on the Christmas tree lights and music and start baking goodies for family and friends.
•    Christmas music and decorations, going to look at Christmas lights and snow.
•    Two things. First, when I put out my Willow Tree nativity scene. Because celebrating Jesus’ birth is the reason for Christmas. So, those decorations are placed in my home first. Second, when I taste peanut butter fudge. My grandmother used to make it every Christmas; then after she passed, my mom took the tradition. This year my mom taught my son how to make it, and he and his four-year-old daughter successfully made it. When my granddaughter gave me that box and I took a bite, Christmas was here.
•    (1) Putting up the Christmas tree. (2) My sweetheart decorating the house and making candy. (3) Decorating the yard and the landscaping. (4) Shopping and watching other frustrated shoppers. (5) Reviewing bank statements and adding up credit card bills.
•    Traditions that are unique to my family make me happy plus the memories of Christmases past get me into the spirit: It’s not Christmas until I listen to Elvis sing “Blue Christmas.” I have a poster that I’ve had since the kids were small. A house with December dates that move from one room to another until Santa comes down the chimney. Making monkey bread on Christmas morning for my son.
•    Christmas music and Christmas decorations.
•    NFL and duck hunting make it feel like the Christmas time of year.
•    Decorating for the holidays, mama making candy and decorating sugar cookies with my daughter.
•    Decorating and hearing the Christmas story.

Soon Christmas will be here. In Luke 2:10-11, the angel who appeared to the shepherds said: “…Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” May you enjoy the day. Merry Christmas!