Checking the date I was surprised to see we were 10 days into December. Without the “luxury” of snow, Mariah Carey’s overplayed “All I want for Christmas” and Rudolph the Reindeer’s special on tv, it is hard to realize we are in the “Christmas season”.
Only a few stores have decorations. The houses around me are without - probably at the fear the ornaments will be stolen.
Yet given the influence of Christianity in this province you can bet almost every family will be attending a Nativity play. Most have already begun their vacations as things ultimately slow down in December.
Reflecting on the season, Christmas has always been a special one. As a young child I was excited to see what Santa Clause brought me. Every year I would write him a letter and leave out the cookies and milk. As I grew a little older I started to compare his written letter, with the handwriting of my mother. Suffice to say I was heartbroken when I discovered “Ma could write as good as Santa”.
But Christmas Day is always the ultimate. For a long time, it was just my sister, my mom and the troublemaker. I would make sure to wake up before anyone. We had three couches in our living room of which I dedicated each persons setting for placing the gifts. When my Stepdad joined the family, he squatted on my mother’s dedicated couch. For me, I always enjoyed finding the gift unique to the receiver and feeling their reaction as they opened it on Christmas Day.
Two of my favourite memories, is the Christmas my family from the States came. It had also been just a few years since my cousins from Guyana moved to Canada. After going to midnight mass, all the cousins returned to our apartment to tell ghost stories in the living room. Afterwards, although personal, we shared stories of who got into trouble at school and the consequences – note the narrator always claimed to never be the victim! That night we set a new tradition. Whoever fell asleep first was subjected to getting toothpaste smeared all over their face with the guys getting their nails painted. And last year, Ige and his family joined us for a wonderful Christmas Day. Together, we “ate Christmas” and watched my Uncle’s wedding in Guyana, which took place well over two decades ago.
Although I am away from home, I am very fortunate to experience a new kind of Christmas. This year I get to play Santa Clause for Without Walls children’s Christmas party. To be a part of this and see the joy on a child’s face, will make even my Christmas, extra special.