Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Christmas Out-of-Season

I was three and confused when I saw Dad carrying Mother down our driveway, across the street, through the alley to the hospital. At first I was worried, but smiles on other faces belied sickness and danger. She couldn't walk? Something fishy was going on. A few days later we met a baby girl at the hospital and brought her home. Christmas in August.

Twenty-five years later and five hundred miles away, I saw folks celebrating Christmas In August on the National Mall. Apparently they still do, in Washington, in New York City with the Rockettes, and elsewhere. I'm a scrooge in August (no offense intended, Sister Mary) and I still don't care much in August for the music I find comforting or nostalgic in December.

Warm weather isn't the issue. I found Christmas spirit in New Zealand the two Christmases we visited, despite the lack of ludicrous lights. I think the near concurrence of Christmas and New Year's Day with their emphasis on newness makes August seem old and inappropriate. Maybe all the explosions in December and again on July 4 call for quiet in August.

"Wait a minute," says Virginia, "are you saying August could be a great time to remind us to hope for and believe in the possibility of peace, and a Prince of Peace?"

All right, not only August, but please, no "Granny Got Run Over by a Reindeer."

3 comments:

  1. Mary Pannabecker SteinerDecember 25, 2009 at 3:47 PM

    So it's MY fault you don't like August? Well, just for your info, I don't like April. It rains all month. It's your fault, Virginia.

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  2. I love August. It's one of my favorite months, being a gardener. My problem is Christmas in August.

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  3. Mary Pannabecker SteinerDecember 26, 2009 at 3:15 PM

    Christmas in August? Who celebrates Christmas in August? And why? Are they nuts? I can't listen to Xmas music for more than a week or so. After that, forget it. Bores me.

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