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Other than the strong few that are holding on to tradition and doing things as they’ve always been, in spite of 2020 doing its 2020 things all around them, I can divide everyone into two groups.
Those who started their Christmas season as early as possible (12:01 a.m. on November 1) and those who haven’t gotten around to their shopping, putting decorations out, getting the tree up, etc., yet all because “it doesn’t feel like Christmas yet.”
And yes, Church-ily speaking, it’s Advent, now, not Christmas.
But, I don’t think anyone can argue that December usually means images of snow, snowmen, hot cocoa, sledding, heartwarming TV commercials, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and sweaters and Santa hats. (When did those sweaters start being called “ugly,” anyway? Who made that decision? I think they look festive.)
If we make it through December
The reasons don’t need to be repeated, but things are different this year.
The “holiday season” kickoff of Thanksgiving wasn’t spent with the usual relatives or friends, and that may have thrown things off a little. I blame my not fully embracing what time of the year it is because I didn’t have my usual nothing but Thanksgiving leftovers to feast on during the weekend after Turkey Day.
As I’m writing this on December 4 and realizing it’s less than three weeks until Christmas, it’s clicking that I’d better start thinking of what presents I’m getting for the important people in my life.
I’m sure the current lack of snow may have something to do with the not grasping of time, but that is one thing I will not complain about.
What am I trying to say?
Things are and feel different this year, and that’s ok. We’re not alone in this.
More than a feeling
There is always a special and unique feeling in the days leading up to Christmas. Much of it may be commercialized, but it’s still there.
Maybe it’s from watching Rudolph or Frosty for the 50th time and embracing the fact that they are some of the few things that have not changed since you were five years old.
Maybe it’s from hearing your favorite Christmas songs that you only can listen to during December, lest you ruin the mood and the spirit.
Maybe it’s from seeing almost every food product in the store magically transform itself into a Christmas version, but usually tasting the same.
Whatever the cause of it is, there is a distinct feeling this time of the year. And due to . . . reasons . . . that feeling isn’t totally graspable this year.
Not everyone is going to be seeing the loved ones that they usually do.
Work and organization Christmas parties will be virtual or postponed.
Seasonal plays, concerts, and other performances will have to be seen in your home via a screen, if available.
It’s easy to be stubborn and just “cancel” Christmas in our minds like so many other things were this year, but that would mean being totally unfair to ourselves.
Christmas time (is here again)
One of the sad realities of everything going on is Christmas Mass attendance will not be as high as usual.
Some people want to go, but won’t be able to due to health risks or attendance restrictions.
Some may have lost the importance of Mass, amid all of the others things that weren’t done this year as they have been in years past.
Even if 99.9 percent of your Christmas time traditions have been taken away from you, there is still that 0.1 percent that can’t be taken away.
As Linus said, “Lights, please?
“And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
“And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them.
“And they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all my people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a savior, which is Christ, the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’
“And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, and goodwill toward men.”
For the shepherds and all of the faithful, nothing would ever be the same again after that holy night.
For some of us, a lot of things won’t ever be the same after 2020, but that’s ok.
On that holy night at the stable, no one could have dreamed what was next.
For a lot of us, going through all that we are going through, we can’t dream what’s next.
Let this time we’re in be a time of birth and rebirth.
Because . . . “That’s what Christmas is all about.”