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Christmas - A Special Time Of Year

It's that time of year when you have a stroll outdoors, the air smells crisp and the skies are a little grey. Mr jack frost has felt the window panes with his magic fingers and the ice scraper needs to come out of the glove box in order to scrape off the front car window. Lights on the street take on a new aura as their red and green lights turn on and off. You begin to drive down the side streets on your way home to see who has the best light show on their lawn, and the children have sent their wish lists off to Santa Claus. If you haven't guessed what time of year it is, it is Christmas time.

Christmas Has Countless Meanings

Christmas itself represents a Holiday season that has taken on countless meanings all over this diverse country of ours; from snow covered hills to pink lights on palm trees, nativity scenes to peppermint pigs. Scrooge and The Grinch with Jim Carey, as well as Miracle on 34th Street and It's A Wonderful Life with James Stewart, all hold a special place in our hearts. Some of us may travel across the country during Christmas time, while others of us may simply travel across the street.

A Time To Share

Regardless of what our Christmas traditions are, there is one very enduring connection that we all share. Recent events in our country's history, ( tragic events such 9-11 in New York and Hurricane Katrina], remind us all of this connection and continue to strengthen that bond each and every day. This time of year we gather together with our friends and family. As we get together, some of us may celebrate the birth of Christ, some of us may light up candles on a Menorah, whilst others will simply unwrap Christmas gifts with a smile on their face, without a second thought. Yet there is no doubt, no question at all, that we all gather to celebrate each other.

We get together to celebrate life, and family, and those we love. We gather to enjoy good food, stimulating conversation and good company. We reminisce nostalgically about holidays from the past, remember those we love who are no longer with us, and plan for the future. We share photos, we share gifts, and we share laughs. At Christmas time we look for the innocent sparkle in our children's eyes as we help them to create their own memories, and put them into bed, neatly tucked up with a big smile on their faces as magical visions of sugar plums dance in their heads.

No matter what our age, our race, or our origin; No matter our heritage, our upbringing, or our traditions; At Christmas time, we live, we burst into laughter, and we love.