I Cry for Christmas

[hyphenate]

I cry for Christmas:

Not because I'm religious, but because of what Christmas used to be.

Snowmen built of new, fresh snow; snow angels by little children formed;
Surprises from Santa under the fresh cut tree; the innocence making all gifts exciting and unexpected.
Keeping the secret of Santa Claus from the younger children
Until they are old enough to share the truth.
Decorating the tree with tinsel, garlands, glass balls and personal ornaments.
Singing Christmas Carols around the neighborhood; egg nog and hot chocolate.
Going into "town" for Christmas shopping; silver bells and jingle bells.
Dreams of Santa climbing down the chimney; wondering if we were good enough to get anything.
Candlelights on window sills and a tree lit up at night to show the world.
Families together, sharing a day, a dinner and presents.
The sight of snow falling, made brighter in the light of a street lamp,
A fireplace crackling wood and sparks of red and orange.
Christmas Eve, hastened by an early bedtime and too much energy to even sleep.

I miss Christmas of my youth.
And today, there is so much wrong, that it makes memories painful instead.
Commercialism--dissatisfaction from cynical children wanting expensive toys.
Intolerance--some people forgetting that not all people celebrate Christmas the same way around the world; the "Christmas" of childhood now torn apart by some who won't respect others who want to simply share the joy of the season as it is.

What does it take to bring us together again?
What will it take to make the eve of winter a joyous time yet again?
What will it take to foster goodwill around the world
and bring us all together in the customs and traditions that so many bring to the celebration?

Christmas isn't just for Christians.
It's the celebration of Hannukah
It's the celebration of Kwanzaa
It's the celebration of the Winter Solstice
It's Kris Kringle, Saint Nick and the Magi
It's the 12 Days of Christmas and Silent Night
It's Deck the Halls and Dreidels
It's a Menorah and Silver Bells
It's Peace and Goodwill toward all mankind
It's the sound of laughter on an early Christmas morning.
It's sharing and caring for all we hold dear
It's champagne, or a cup of good cheer.

Those who feel so angry to all who call it Christmas without the holiness
Are missing the point--Christmas is much more than one belief system--
Christmas time is sharing time, for old and young, for rich and poor
and everyone else who dares to try--bringing together so many
with only the goal of brotherhood in their eyes.

I miss the old days of Christmas
When happiness ruled the day
When children could laugh
When grownups could smile
When days were once merry
And tradition was high
But now, it's not what it used to be like
When stores try to outsell each other
And people fight in stores
And children won't settle for mittens and scarves
And the poorer you are, the poorer you'll stay.

I just want to see the old days again
When Christmas was for all, without any complaint
And innocence rules once more.

May your holiday be filled with all the best
of the traditions, regardless of what they might be.

[Deja Q]

1. The impossible:

Everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY, has to start with a clean slate. Reset the checkbook, forgive ALL debts, forgive past transgressions, and work from a clean slate.

That or let the powerful decide what to do, in which case we'd better side with them or be exterminated.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Forgive me if I'm wrong,

but isn't that something different cultures have done? I'm thinking of the year of Jubilee for the Jews-fields remained fallow, but also debts were forgiven, I believe. And forgiving debts, etc, starting anew is found in some Native American cultures, I believe.

I think the idea has merit, but it means a change in our belief systems in regards to posessions and relationships with others. Perhaps this change will happen.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. Thank you for this thoughtful piece

Innocence and peace--good wishes for everyone.

[Igel]

4. I agree.

However, my generation has decided that kids need to deal with adult problems and that anything suitable for adults is ok for kids--after all, they see and hear everything these days. Children must not have heroes; or, rather, they should, but a hero has to be perfect in all ways ... something no human being can be. They must be realists. They must question everything from an early age, critiquing and deciding things before they can possibly have learned enough facts to be able to do so. When they're in elementary school and reflect back to us the political views we've inculcated in them, we're proud of them.

With all these things comes cynicism; when children can't be childlike there's an inevitable loss of innocence.

Sad, really.

[blues90]

5. I feel much the same way

I miss the way things used to be and christmass now has really changed . It is a different world now , so much for so called progress and greed .

I suppose one would have to experience the past to appreciate the difference .

We did not have much , it was the spirit people had that made all the difference and the simple things .

[Raine]

6. Very nice post

I agree. I get depressed at Christmas because I remember the way it used to be that is gone forever. :-(