Most of my life I have been accused of being a bah-humbug person. Not a Scrooge, mean-spirited character, merely one who did not "get into the spirit of the season" I was definitely a bit like that when it came to discussions or fighting crowds in a Mall or down Oxford Street; However, I never minded buying gifts nor wrapping them and love the look of a lit up Christmas tree. I just get sick of hearing 'Santa's Coming to Town' sung everyday, 20 times a day, from November 1st on the radio TV or even the Supermarket!!
I have great memories of childhood Christmases, and prefer Christmas Carols to the pop songs of the season. (Although, 'Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer' is a classic.) Somewhere in my twenties, when I thought science and religion were opposite sides of a universal coin, I thought going to church at Christmas meant I was being a hypocrite.
Then, I realized that going to a Christmas service and singing those carols were a ritual sharing of a celebration with my family. One that we all would remember for decades. Especially, as I am much older now and many of those family members are not sitting in the pew beside me, the happy memories remain.
So forgive me wincing at the radio's choice of music, but let me smile inwardly when 'Hark, the Herald Angels Sing' comes on and I shed an inward tear for my beloved family.
