The 12 Days of Christmas

Christmas is a magical and intensely lonely time. That's been my experience these last several years. Last year, newly divorced and still grieving the absence of my magical Mama in this season, I chose to go away. It was the right choice. I visited my Daddy in New Hampshire and had a whole slew of new experiences, including taking a walk on the beach on Christmas Day.

This year, my work schedule required me to be at home for most of the holidays. Although I didn't view that prospect with the same dread that I had last year, it was still daunting. My home, my life, my friends are all rich with Christmas traditions shared with 2 large personalities. How was I going to manage?

As I sorted through ornaments to put on my lovely White Fir Christmas Tree (my favorite kind because it doesn't poke as much) I realized that not every ornament was special. In fact, not every ornament was even to my liking. So, I started to sort through them. As I sorted, I asked myself "Do I like this ornament? Why do I have it? Will I miss it?" Those that I knew I wouldn't miss will be popping up in Thrift Stores near me next Christmas.

It's like I was Marie Kondo-ing my Christmas tree...

Which made me think about all of the Christmas traditions swirling around in my head, waiting for me to make the time for them. I wasn't feeling most of them. I decorated my home, because what former Stage Manager doesn't love setting the scene. I made Wassail all season long. I made Pecan Tarts for a few lucky people. And that's about it. I had done most of my holiday shopping in the end of season sales right before I left Juneau in September, and I didn't even spend much time wrapping this year.

Instead, I watched some Christmas movies (although fewer than last year) and listened to a lot of Christmas music. On Christmas morning I went to work and shared in the Christmas morning of several guests. After work I drove six hours to visit my family in SE Missouri and arrived to game night. In case you were wondering, my team lost huge in Pictionary and won large in Guesstures.

And this is where I come to my new Christmas perspective. I've always been touched by the celebration of Epiphany in Liturgical churches.I think that it is so fitting to set aside time to acknowledge the part of the Nativity story when we Gentiles enter. As a theater girl, I love how God sets the stage for our salvation - he is so thorough! I could go on and on about the lineage of Christ and how flawed, how human it is. But let's just focus on the fact that wise men of far flung cultures had studied the Hebrew scriptures and knew that a STAR was announcing the birth of the Messiah.

And then, they followed it! That's not the same as me driving down to family for Christmas Day, a quick 6 hour trip to a well known and well loved destination. They loaded up their camels, gathered their entourage, financed expensive gifts and followed a star to an UN-known place, people and situation.

And I love that the 12 days of Christmas, the actual days not the song, begins on Christmas Day with joy and ends on Epiphany with the manifestation of the Christ Child's Divinity. Because that's what Epiphany is, "A manifestation of a divine or supernatural being, The manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi (Matthew 2:1-12)"

That is SO worth celebrating! And that is a tradition I decided to start this year, celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas. I'm coloring outside the lines and doing things my way. Paper bag luminaries are beginning to show up outside my house, a slew of battery operated candles decorate my mantle. I've taken down the Santas and left up the nativities. I've invited a group of women for an Epiphany Dinner Party and pre-ordered a traditional French King Cake from Veloute`(you should check them out, they're amazing).

I've got more to say about it all, but we are only 2/3 of the way through Epiphany. I'll save some for later! Until then,

Be Fruitful (YOUR way),
Karlie