Well this isn't the Rockwell house — it's mine. Therefore, in honor of families everywhere, in lieu of The Christmas festivities usually start a week before, when we pull all the decorations down from the attic and distribute them in the living room/dining room. This is relatively easy and fun...until we pull out our two Christmas tree angels. You see, the tree has always been my favorite decoration, and my "decorating goal" has always been to find the perfect tree topper. Last year, I did. The only problem is...my youngest sister HATES it, and she's got red hair/a temper too. Well, this year it wasn't a problem, because I didn't argue with her after I realized I could put "my angel" on the piano and look at it every day while I practice. Crises one averted...but I still think mine looks better.
Once the house is decorated, then the real fun begins...last minute shopping. I'm telling you, I think it happens every year. I swear up and down that I will have all my shopping done before this time, and every year that plan always falls through. So it's off to the mall to brave the traffic and pray that the things you actually want are still there. But as scrooge-like as this paragraph sounds, I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it. Something about the adrenaline rush as you realize you have finally done it again, against all odds, doesn't get old. Seriously, I feel like a sugar plum fairy godmother at the end of the day.
But not all Christmas festivities are work. Some are almost magical...such as Fezziwig's Jig.
In case you don't know yet from reading my blog, facebook page, etc... I love Jane Austen, and I love excuses to dress up and dance. So Fezziwig's was like a Austenite/cosplayer's dream come true. A Christmas ball where you get to dress up in the fashion of the regency era, dance, play games and pretend you're in the middle of a Charles Dickens or Jane Austen novel? Yes please! Well, not all the dances were from that era 
(something tells me Cotton Eye Joe and the Virginia Reel were not widespread in England then), but that was all right. By that time, we'd all had lots of Regency dances and were more than happy to kick up our heels before the party ended. This was the first year my friends and I went, but it's definitely a tradition now.Finally, Christmas Eve arrived. My family was planning on going to see Frozen later in the day (more about that in my December Favorites), so I tried to wrap all my gifts that morning right after I woke up. But I sat down to find that the bag of Christmas bows I'd bought was empty! Knowing I wouldn't have time to get any more if I wanted to make Christmas cookies for gifts with my sisters, I ended up wrapping everything just in paper. Maybe I'm a little nit-picky, but I do like to dress up gifts when I wrap them; so when I walked into my room to find this...you can imagine my initial thoughts. At least it only took me a few minutes to see the humor and laugh before my sisters came into the room, ha ha.
When the gifts were wrapped and the cookies baked and the kids were all in bed, then came my favorite part of Christmas Eve. Every year since my parish priest came to my church, he has held a candlelit High Mass at midnight on Christmas morning. Between September and December 25th, my church choir practices hard to sing Christmas Carols in harmony; and it's not completely vain for me to say that it does sound like a choir of angels since it's a team effort. I would put a picture of the altar and manger scene here, but I was a moron and accidentally left my camera at home.
But even though all the lights and music and beautiful things are fun, the infant Jesus is what this silent night is all about. It's not wrong to enjoy the festivities of the season; but kneeling at the altar rail before the tabernacle and the infant statue is the most peaceful, serene moment of the holiday. Presents and parties and colorful decorations don't compare with the happiness that comes when you just spend a few minutes contemplating the meaning of the day...Jesus' birthday...the day the Divine Messiah was born. This is Christmas.
So as I sit here writing this post, eating the last of the candy from my stocking and sipping my third cup of coffee, I want to wish you that same peace on this great season. Merry Christmas and God bless us, every one.
Now I'm going to see if there's any more perfect Christmas cookies left.
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