It's the 9th of December and I still haven't put the xmas tree up. Unusual for me. As a kid I loved xmas, mainly becuase my mom did it so well. Every year the tree would go up in early December and that would kick start the magic to ensue.
Throughout the years the xmas tree has been a symbol of hope and stability in my sometimes chaotic life. I remember moving from Ireland to our new house in England back in December 2006. Arriving at a cold house before any of our furniture got there and sleeping on the floor, all that we had for the first two nights was the xmas tree which I brought with us in the car ferry. I put it up with the kids and decorated it. It stood there keeping us warm inside and reminding us all that this was not just a house, but, also a new home.
I first moved in to live with my wife and kids in late December 2001. It had been a beautiful whirlwind romance, that suddenly got a lot more serious and complicated when my wife's two kids arrived from Africa. However, I quickly fell in love with all three people and wanted us to become a family. So we moved into a small room together in a shared house that I was renting. It was a rocky start to our life together. The kids had never really experienced a European xmas, so on xmas eve I took my little daughter to the shopping mall to buy a tree and some decorations. We came back and put it up in the living room. Although we didn't have much that year and the future was very uncertain, that tree standing tall in our house reminded us all that we had each other. In each other we would find the strength to pull through, and that xmas was the first of many wonderful years together.
Despite all my memories of the joy and comfort that the xmas tree has brought, for some reason this year I've been slow to put it up. To be very honest the whole xmas spirit has not captivated me in the way that it usually does. Our recent trip back to Africa has left me feeling a bit uncomfortable with material excess and nothing glorifies material excess more than the xmas season. Our kids have also grown big now and the wonder of xmas is not what it used to be for them. Last year I had my little god daughter visit and it was fantastic to share the wonder and magic with her, but, unfortunately she won't be with us this year. Also, matters of both work and the extended family are very pressing this year - xmas just seems like a huge distraction that I could do without.
However, when I think back to the light it has shone in my life in years gone by I know what needs to be done. The tree must go up! This thought was confirmed very strongly this morning by my teenage daughter who not only wants it up this week, but, is insistent that all the family must be present for the occasion to participate in it's decoration. Once again the tree is bringing us together as a family - reminding us that above all we have each other and acting as a symbol of light and hope for the year ahead.
Life can be hard and often is uncertain. Xmas for me has always been a consistent light. A little joy at the heart of each year. It brings hope and gives courage. That is the magic of xmas and the tree is a wonderful symbol - more powerful that we really give it credit for.
Mine went up this weekend. I am a Christmas nut, but this year, for me too, my festive cheer had been a little meeker than usual. That is, until the tree went up! We went out in the first light snow fall of the year, armed with a saw and excitement to the German countryside, to choose and cut down our tree. Then with cheesy Christmas tunes pumping out of the speakers, Mulled wine brewing on the stove and a Roast Chicken in the oven filling the house with the cosy aroma of home, we decorated the tree and the house and over dinner with friends let the magic of the festive season slowly creep under our skin and onto our faces.......still smiling!
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