I don’t know whether anyone can quantify it or thoroughly explain it even after delving into the depths of theology and sociology, but the Christmas season has a magical quality – spiritual and secular – like no other time of the year.
It is indeed a supernova of a season spawning a twinkle in the eye of people of all generations.
Christmas has a mesmerizing beauty in its traditions. Which explains why our Christmas memories remain vividly vibrant in the folds of time
In a calendar year chockfull of special events and other religious celebrations, Christmas remains the High Holy Day of Joy. Wherever you are and whoever you are with, savor the spirit of the season and soak up the good tidings.
If every day could be in Christmas season, Mother Earth truly would be a priceless gift worth unwrapping.
There is something about Christmastime that moves many of us like the clarinet glissando in “Rhapsody in Blue.”
Christmas has a cosmic connection to our souls, leaving us a little tipsy with the intoxication of the season — freeing ourselves from the quicksand of our minds and granting us a refreshing pause on this whirling planet of war and woe.
The religious component is obvious. Preparing for and then celebrating the birth of Jesus gives us a sense of spiritual renewal.
Of course, the secular side of Christmas generally overshadows the religious aspects except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services.
The Christmas season uplifts spirits because it is so festive. Besides the adventure of Christmas shopping and the intrinsic joy of giving and receiving gifts, the Christmas atmosphere is all-encompassing.
The music, the food, the cookies, the decorations, the parties, the family gatherings, the community concerts, the Christmas carol singalongs, the tree-trimming celebrations and the holiday movies all contribute to a galactic explosion of light that simply consumes everything else.
And then there is the exquisite experience of watching young children opening their presents on Christmas morning, their eyes glowing with joy and delight.
However, please be careful on Christmas Day. Not to sound like the Grinch who stole Christmas, but Christmas is the most lethal day of the year. And it’s not because people strangle themselves with the ugly tie or scarf their Uncle Louie bought them. Or because the Christmas bills will come soon.
Suffice it to say, be still my heart is not a good thing on Christmas Day. The culprit is not seeing a doctor in a timely fashion. With overcrowded emergency rooms and many doctor offices short-staffed or closed for the holidays, people with egg nog and Christmas cookies hardening in their arteries don’t get the prompt medical attention they need. Which is why New Year’s Day is the second deadliest day of the year.
So please don’t neglect your cardio during the holidays. Listening to carols makes the time on the treadmill or bike go that much faster.
After all, only Santa Claus should have a belly that shakes like a bowlful of jelly.
