AFTER CHRISTMAS

Well, we had a great Christmas, and it helps to pass the winter. – Ina

           
AFTER CHRISTMAS

“The tumult and the shouting dies,”*

The families with their gifts depart;

Now comes the yearly sacrifice

Taking the Christmas tree apart.

Removing the lovely decorations –

Taking down the outside lights;

Finding places to store the new things –

How dull the scene will be tonight!

But lovely memories linger on –

The Holy Family in its Creche;

The dear old Christmas carols sung –

The hope for better years of Grace.

Then once again we’ll gather ‘round

To celebrate the Christ Child’s birth,

And say in heartfelt unison –

“To men of good will – Peace on Earth!”

                            Author Unknown

Some people put their all into the celebration of Christmas and then have difficulty recovering, a.k.a. post-Christmas depression or even colds/flu. I truly miss my mother’s over-the-top Christmas, but I simply can’t do it. I’m so grateful that Grandma Ina’s letters came to my rescue, showing me that it’s okay to do it another way. Ina’s understated Christmas is “just the thing.”

Christmas is a magical day only because we make it so. It relates to the winter solstice, and that’s good because we need a celebration of light during the dark months. But -- too soon we put it all away, and then it’s gloomy for the next two months. Christmas should help us to pass the winter rather than handing us off into darkness and despair. We should do like Ina – take our memories and enjoy the quiet winter months.

Of course, I sometimes wonder if it always went well for Ina. “I stood it all just fine,” she says more than once, which indicates perhaps she didn’t once or twice. Still, she sets forth a philosophy worth noting: Christmas helps to pass the winter. KW

*From Recessional by Rudyard Kipling