Things to Love about Christmas

Christmas is almost here and though it isn’t my favorite holiday (that distinction belongs to Thanksgiving) there are still plenty of things that I love about the holiday season. I love getting Christmas cards, smelling my tree after a long day, and getting gifts doesn’t suck either. Here are the three things I love most about Christmas. I absolutely adore Advent calendars. I’d never even heard of them before going to college. Then during my freshman year, my French roommate got a care package from Paris. I can’t remember all of the goodies she received, but I do remember being entranced by her colorfully decorated paper and cardboard calendar. I was absolutely charmed as she got a chocolate treat as she did a daily countdown to Christmas. I wanted a calendar so bad. Now I have an Advent Calendar of my own and my honey leaves treats for me to find every day. I love me some Donnie Hathaway, Mariah Carey and Darlene Love and I love them even more when they are crooning their Christmas hits. But, as much as I love secular Christmas songs, my absolute favorite Christmas song is O Holy Night. After Thanksgiving I hear it all the time over the radio and in movies, but when I was young the only place I had heard O Holy Night was in my church. It was sung by my mother. I’d be so proud hearing her beautiful voice singing words of love for the Christ child and giving justice to the author’s words. Now when I listen to it, it reminds me of my mother as much as it reminds me of Jesus’ birth. Lastly, yall know I love movies and television right? So I think it is fitting that my third most favorite thing about Christmas is a movie that got famous from being on television all of the time. No, not A Christmas Story, (though I do love that movie), but It’s a Wonderful Life. How can you not love George Bailey’s story of sacrifice, family, dreams deferred and friendship? My honey has never seen the movie and I’ve just bet her that she can’t sit through it without crying. I know that George, ZuZu and Clarence will move her and make her appreciate life and the Christmas season as much as it has made me appreciate them. And yes, I cry every time I watch it. I hope that for this Christmas you get a chance to enjoy all of the things that make the holiday special for you. From the bottom of my heart, have a very merry Christmas and an amazing New Year!