Keeping Christmas well - Day 15

"Whether He is descriptively designated as Creator, Only Begotten Son, Prince of Peace, Advocate, Mediator, Son of God, Savior, Messiah, Author and Finisher of Salvation, King of Kings - I witness that Jesus Christ is the only name under heaven whereby one can be saved. I testify that He is utterly incomparable in what He is, what He knows, what he has accomplished and what He has experienced. Yet, movingly, He calls us His friends. We can trust, worship, and even adore Him without any reservation. As the only perfect person to sojourn on this planet, there is none like Him. In intelligence and performance, He far surpasses the individual and the composite capacities and achievements of all who have lived, live now, and will yet live. He rejoices in our genuine goodness and achievement, but any assessment of where we stand in relation to Him tells us that we do not stand at all. We kneel."
Neal A. Maxwell

Keeping Christmas well - Day 14

In the fall of 1980, my Mom and Dad had a feeling that they should try and get their whole family together for Christmas. With seven kids, four of them married with children, this would be no easy feat. Mom and Dad also wanted their mothers to attend. It would take a lot of planning, a lot of work and some patience and cooperation. When my Mom puts her mind to something, good things happen. (We wrote about Christmases past in the 1987 volume of our annual family history, but the one many of us remember best happened in 1980.)
Family members gathered from Texas, Arizona, Utah and Idaho. Grandmas were picked up and driven to the house at 240 N. Meridian Road. Bedroom assignments were made. Luckily sister Janet and her husband Dave had a beautiful new home a mile away and they accepted overnight guests from the group. Everyone arrived close to Christmas eve and the festivities began. Mom and Dad picked up a couple of long banquet tables from the church and the entire group of 26 sat down for Christmas eve dinner in the living room, dressed in their Sunday best clothing. After a lovely turkey dinner with all the trimmings (yes, including sauerkraut) we enjoyed the traditional Christmas eve program, with everyone participating. Dad always ended the evening by reading the Christmas story from Luke. We sang some songs and enjoyed being together. Little did we know that this would be the last Christmas together. Grandma Mamie passed away in 1982 and our dear Dad in 1983. This Christmas will long be remembered as the last Christmas we all celebrate together the birth of our Savior.
We spent about three days together just enjoying each other. The weather was fabulous for late December in Idaho, and the men even erected a football goal post and we had a fun game of football out in the field by our home. Dad rented the roller rink in town and we went roller skating another afternoon. We ate, played games (spoons and Rook were among the funnest) enjoyed watching all the grandchildren play together and we just enjoyed the season in every way possible. Santa Claus even made a house visit on Christmas eve to see if all the punksters were in bed yet.
I'm so grateful that Mom and Dad listened to a prompting to gather their family together. That Christmas is one that I remember best. Mary and Earl certainly knew how to keep Christmas well.

Keeping Christmas well - Day 13

I received this link from Courtney. Good thing the birth of Christ didn't happen in this digital age.

Keeping Christmas well - Day 12

David Archuleta was endearing; Michael York, distinguished; the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, spectacular.
The music was glorious; the setting, magical; the messages, powerful. The dancers, the orchestra, the bells all added to the special flavor of the night.
It was, in fact, the very essence of Christmas. The annual Christmas concert by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir had all the joy, the reflection, the tradition, the emotion that make the season so meaningful. D News Dec 18, 2010.
Four very happy audience members. Thanks again Carol for inviting us!

Keeping Christmas well - Day 11

I've been so busy keeping Christmas well, that I haven't had a chance to write lately. Things are heating up around here and I'm almost ready for Christmas. But before I talk about the Christmas present, I wanted to write a little more about a few Christmases past...

The year was 1976. I was in Resistencia, Argentina. I'd been in the country for almost four months serving an LDS church mission. My Spanish was coming along, but I still had a long way to go. I was getting to the point where I could understand most of what people were saying, but I was still struggling putting my own words together. Luckily, I had the best companion of all time. Hermana Karen Smith from Heyburn, Idaho. We got a long so well and thoroughly enjoyed our time together as companions. We ended up serving about five months together and we had some marvelous adventures and many life changing experiences teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Christmas was unusual in 1976 for many reasons. First of all, it was summertime and it was over 100 degrees with high humidity. Since the seasons in the northern hemisphere are just opposite what they are at home, it was definitely a change to celebrate Christmas in the heat. We went as a district to sing Christmas carols to various hospitals and care centers. It was fun to sing in Spanish because even though the words were different, I knew all the songs by heart.
We were living with the Castro family. They were so good to us. We rented a bedroom on the second floor of their home and we shared the family bathroom. Their maid prepared our meals and we ate with the family. On Christmas eve we enjoyed a lovely meal with the Castro family and then they all went off to Catholic mass. We stayed up later than normal and enjoyed visiting with them and waiting for the arrival of Papa Noel (Santa Claus.) The emphasis was on family togetherness, good food, conversation and music. It was a wonderful way to celebrate. I will admit to a few pangs of home sickness, knowing that my own dear family would be gathered in Idaho that same evening. My little brother was serving in England and I was in Argentina. Though we were scattered across the world, we shared a common desire to celebrate the birthd of our Savior. In Argentina, we shared the Christmas story and gave some gifts to some people we knew about that needed some help and encouragement. It was a Christmas to remember because the Argentines knew now to keep Christmas well.

The next Christmas in 1977, I left the mission field. I actually flew out of Argentina headed for a few days of sight seeing in Peru on Christmas day. Of course they don't allow missionaries to do that sort of thing now, but back then when the rules weren't so strict, my companion and I (two women no less) got to travel on our way home. The night before, my companion Hermana Colleen Stoddard and I had enjoyed attending the baptism of a young man named Gustavo. His mother was a member of our church and he had decided to join the LDS ranks on the Christmas eve baptism program. It was wonderful to end my mission that way, with a baptism and a reminder about that really matters in life. We attended a "goodbye party" for Hermana Vonnie and went back to the pension where we lived with the Barissi family. Senora Barissi had prepared some of our favorite foods and we enjoyed a lovely evening with their family. The next day, I left a sobbing Hermana Stoddard and took the bus to Rosario to meet up with my MTC companion Hermana Cheri Hirshi who was my traveling companion. We arrived at the mission home and had lunch with Presidente Fernandez and his lovely wife. They took us to the airport and we waited for our flight to Peru. It was an amazing experience to say goodbye to the country I had grown to love and to have a heart full of love for the people who lived there. There were lots of tears and goodbyes. Emotions were high as we celebrated the birth of the Savior and contemplated our return home to our families.


After touring Peru for a few days and seeing the sights of Lima, Cusco and Machupicchu, we landed at the Salt Lake City airport. We got off on the tarmac and walked from the terminal into the loving arms of our family members. I can remember that day like it was yesterday. I was so happy to see my family again!
We drove home to Rupert, Idaho on December 30 to find that the family had kept my gifts under the Christmas tree. I got some new clothes to replace the worn ones I had been wearing for the past 18 months. I had a heart full of love for Argentina, my mission, the Savior and his mission and for my family. It was truly a Christmas to remember.

Keeping Christmas well – Day 10

I've never roasted chestnuts on an open fire, but I have enjoyed having an open fire in the fireplace of our living room over the last few weeks. It just feels so nice and warm. It looks great and it creates an ambiance that is unmatched with the crackling logs all aglow. Funny thing is that we haven't used the wood burning fireplace since we bought this house...16 years ago. Not one fire. Until a couple of weeks ago. I finally bought a wood grate, the fireplace tools, some self starter logs and we were set. We even had a huge pile of wood out back for an emergency, but now we are burning the wood without an emergency in sight. Our gas buring fireplace in the basement is great and we've used that one for years. It's just such a nice addition to burn some real wood on the fire. I grew up with a fireplace and later a wood burning stove. There's nothing like a nice fire on a cold night to bring some holiday cheer!
We've had some lovely dinner parties with some friends over the weekend, and the burning fire added just the right final touch. It will certainly help us keep Christmas well throughout the month. Hooray! And about those chestnuts, does anyone know how to actually roast them?? I'm curious...

Keeping Christmas well - Day 9

I have a special friend who I have known for over 20 years. Back in the day we played sports together, we've served together in the YW organization, we've been V.T. comps and now Rick is her home teacher and I am his companion and we visit her home regularly.
She has been through a lot in those 20 years. She has some mental health challenges and it is amazing to see all that she can do in spite of those challenges. She is employed full-time and supports herself. She volunteers at the library every week. She tutors students who are having a hard time in math. She is very smart and earned her MBA online. She knows a lot of things and it is always interesting to talk to her. We go on a walk each Monday night at 5:30 pm. Rain, shine, snow, hail, we walk around the track by our house. She tells me about her life and I tell her about mine. She is a good listener and I enjoy her company. I've seen her go through some very hard situations and I've seen her shine in the best situations. She is pretty much alone in the world. She doesn't have a lot to do with her mother, her sister and her brother. She sees them about once a year if that. She doesn't spend holidays with them and they don't make any effort to spend any holiday with her.
She has two cats who keep her company since she is single and lives alone. She has some interesting hobbies that fill her time when she is home from work. One amazing hobby is that she makes paper from all sorts of natural fibers. She makes gift cards and other paper and she is getting very good at it. If you've been lucky, then maybe I've sent you a gift card that was hand made by my friend. She also collects vintage children's books. She collects series books from the 1900-1940s. She has an impressive and valuable collection. She travels all over the country to various bookstores to find the titles she needs to finish off a collection.
Why do I mention her at this time of year? Because she is a generous Christmas gift giver who anonymously gives to others without them ever finding out. She involves me in her gift giving. Usually it's my handwriting on the card instead of hers. Or I'm the delivery person or the drop off person. She decides who she wants to help and she never wants them to find out about it. She swears me to secrecy and I'll take those secrets to the grave. She gives generously and she gives with love in her heart. Given her challenges, she could easily be the one to receive, but she determines that in order to really enjoy Christmas, she wants to be the one to give.
I admire that about her. She has helped support many missionaries (especially sister missionaries including our own daughter) and does it because she doesn't want to miss the opportunity to support a missionary even if she doesn't have one of her own.
I admire people who do hard things. I admire people who forge ahead against very difficult odds. I admire people who know that their problems will become lessened if they will get outside of themselves and give to others. She is a perfect example of the kind of person I admire for the selfless service and kindness that she gives to others.

Keeping Christmas well - Day 8

12 days until Christmas

I'm not a huge fan of "the 12 days of Christmas" song. It gets annoying after the "partridge in a pear tree." I am a huge fan of the 12 days until Christmas giving tradition however.
I'm not sure when it started. I just know that it was a long time ago when our kids were little. We would choose a family or an elderly person in the neighborhood and for each of the 12 days before Christmas, we would take a little something over to their house and leave it anonymously on their front porch. We'd ring the door bell and run. This would go on for 12 days and then finally at the end, we'd give them the best gift of all and usually they would have figured out who we were or we would stop by and wish them a Merry Christmas.
One year a family did the 12 days of Christmas to our family! It was so exciting for our kids. This special family started out on the 13th day of December and brought one gift that was left on your doorstep and a note announcing that they would be giving us gifts for the next 11 days. Our kids were so excited. Day one brought one gift, day two brought two gifts and so forth. They were nice gifts too. Our little kids watched from their bedroom windows faithfully and tried so hard to figure out who was "doing" the 12 days for our family. The givers were very good and very fast. They could come and go without a trace. The doorbell would ring and the kids would run to the door and to the windows to try and spy the givers. Nothing. This went on for days! Finally towards the very end of it, we discovered that the Livingston family was our special giving family! They ended the streak with a Christmas book that we still have. It made the days before Christmas so exciting and we appreciated them so much for making such a special Christmas memory for us.
This year we have chosen a family who needs an extra special boost. I hope they enjoy it and I hope we can build the same kind of suspense and mystery that the Livingston boys built for our family all those years ago. One problem however. We can't run as fast...
Oh, on a side note. My little elf has started delivering little gifts to my car seat again this year. It annoys Rick to no end that some little elf gets into our locked garage to leave the gifts, but I LOVE it. I look forward to it every year and hope that he comes again. And he did!

Keeping Christmas well - Day 7

Count down to Christmas! It's such a fun thing to do.
30 years ago our neighbor and friend Ginger Lantz designed the darling and ingenious little advent calendar seen above with the dark green fabric. It has been a favorite family activity through all these years and our kids loved counting down to Christmas using the nativity calendar. The scene builds until finally the Christ child arrives on Christmas day.
As our kids have left home to start homes of their own, they have requested that I make them their own advent calendar so they they can enjoy it with their spouses and/or kids. I made one for Jord and Jake their first Christmas with Lauren, and this year I made two more for Claire and Rich and Dave and Courtney. We put the finishing touches on Courtney and Dave's calendar when we were down there visiting a month ago. Courtney did a great job of coloring the individual pieces and in printing the lettering and assembling the whole thing. She reports that she and Dave hurry to get up in the morning in order to be the first to put on the next piece. I'd say that is keeping Christmas well and anticipating the arrival of baby Jesus on Christmas morning!

Keeping Christmas well - Day 6

Christmas City USA Rupert, Idaho
There is no place like it on the whole planet.
Beginning in 1987 Rupert actually "owns" the title "Christmas City, USA"
and no one else can have it.
And what makes Christmas City, USA so special?
How does Rupert keep Christmas well?
What is all the fuss about?
Well, have you got a minute?

The beautiful Historic Square sets the town apart from South Central Idaho where most celebrations, such as the Fourth of July, Fish Fry, Potato Fest, and Christmas celebrations take place. Rupert became, officially, "Christmas City, USA" in November, 1987. The City is decorated beautifully with Christmas lights through the town and square, beginning the Friday evening after Thanksgiving. These are paid for from the proceeds of a "Christmas in July" breakfast the end of June to kick-off the Fourth of July Celebration.

When I was a kid we would always go into town to watch Santa arrive on the Rupert fire engine and flip the switch to light up the town square with Christmas lights the day after Thanksgiving. It was a sight to behold. There was darkness one minute and then the very next moment, brilliant lights were activated that took my breath away. Christmas music was playing over loud speakers and it was always a very exciting event to attend. This event officially started the Christmas season and we went into high anticipation mode from that day forward.
I can still see in my minds eye the Rupert town square of the 1960s. Back when I was a kid, it was a real going concern. On the south side of the Rupert square were two "large" department stores. JCPenney and Idaho Department Store. If they didn't have it, you didn't need it. There were two drug stores on that side of the square as well. One had a soda fountain and it was a treat to get something to eat there. There was also a fabric store and a shoe store.
The west side of the store had a bank, Kings variety store (with that distinctive plastic smell that I love!) another drug store, another shoe store and a home decor, flower store. I can't remember that name of it. Anyone, anyone? It had the most lovely Christmas displays each year. At the back of the store was a Christmas village and the best part of all is that is smelled just like Christmas! This was before highly scented candles and such were available. It had such ambiance and you could just feel Christmas by going in that store. There was also a bar called the Drift Inn on the west side of the street (and as kids we use to call it - Drift Inn, Stagger Out.)
The grand Wilson theater was located across the street from the bar on an angle street and we spend many happy holiday nights watching the latest movie at that theater.
On the north side of the square was the swanky and upscale store called Ropers. If you could afford to buy something in Ropers, you were really rich. Next to Ropers was Stocks music store, a jewelry store and Hogans western leather store. Further on down was a photography store called Sinclair Shutters and a pizza place called Grizzly Bear pizza. Another bar was located on the corner of the north side.
Turning east, that side of the square had a small grocery store where we use to walk from the junior high school and buy candy during lunch hour. We'd look at the pickled pigs feet in jars and scream with disgust. Red Hot Tamales were new to the candy world and they were shaped like a pill. I would eat them sometimes and pretend that I was being cool and experimenting with a drug! I digress...
Catmulls furniture store was located on the east side of the square. It took up a lot of space and they sold not only furniture but appliances and other household necessities. There were a few other sundry stores on the east side and at the end of the corner was a liquor store.
These stores were our whole world. If you needed something and these stores didn't have it, then you would have to travel to neighboring Burley or to Twin Falls to make your purchase. We often did our of town shopping in Utah when we visited the grandparents to enjoy a larger selection. For the main, I think our little town use to have most of the things we actually needed. The choices were few, but they were practical.
In the center of the town square was a large park with swings and playground equipment, a water fountain, benches, and lots and lots of trees. A little house would be set up for Santa and a kid could go visit him and sit on his lap on some Saturdays and evenings. It was a trilling time.
The sights, the sounds, the smells and mostly the good will that abounded are what made Christmas City, USA so special. The people in the community of about 5,000 mostly knew each other and there was a good feeling there. The streets leading in and out of town were all lighted with Christmas lights. There is truly no place like Christmas City, USA!

(Here is a little more I've written about growing up in Rupert.)

Keeping Christmas well - Day 5

Pay it forward.

It was Christmas 1983. Dad had passed away from cancer five months previously. Our little family had also gone through a crisis that changed the course of our lives (for the better as it turns out, although we didn't know it at the time) and we didn't have very much money. I was kind of dreading Christmas because dad wouldn't be there and because we didn't have hardly any money to buy our little girls a few gifts.
Then two wonderful things happened. Someone played sub-for-Santa and left a box of food and a few toys on our doorstep. That gesture meant so much to us. We never knew who did it, but we appreciated their generosity and awareness in knowing that we were struggling.
The second thing that happened is that my sister Janet and her husband Dave came to town to visit. They took us to dinner at Marie Calendars and we enjoyed clam chowder and corn bread. How can I remember a dinner menu from almost 30 years ago? It's because of what happened next and the fact that what happened next is seared into my memory.
They gave us an envelope and told us to open it when we got home. When we did open it, we found a $100 dollar bill inside. We cried for joy! That $100 could as well have been $1000 because it meant so much to us. It meant we could buy our little girls a few gifts and that helped raise our spirits in ways you can't even imagine.
We went shopping and got the little dollies pictured below. We bought some paint and refurbished a doll cupboard that my dad had made years previously. We bought a few little dishes for the cupboard and we were set for Christmas!
We have tried to pay it forward over the years and it's been a pleasure to do so. That kind gesture from a beloved sister and her husband still warms my heart. They did not have a lot themselves and they had their own little children to provide for, but they gave to us nonetheless. That is the true spirit of Christmas.

Keeping Christmas well - Day 4

What would Christmas be without Christmas music? How could we keep Christmas well if we couldn't listen to the spiritually moving sounds of Handel's Messiah or the sacred Christmas hymns that speak of Christ's birth sung with faith and conviction? I'm often moved to tears listening to these stirring pieces.
Attending Christmas concerts is a very important part of our Christmas traditions. It just wouldn't seem like Christmas if we couldn't attended the annual Messiah sing along at Abravanel Hall with the Utah Symphony, or attend the BYU Celebration of Christmas with the choruses and philharmonic orchestra. We've attended the Kurt Bestor concert for many years. Last night we got to hear David Lanz perform at the Covey center and we enjoyed his special sound and arrangements on the piano. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir will put on their annual concert in a couple of weeks and this year David Archuleta will be the guest performer. Listening to Christmas music on Pandora at work, on Sirus XM in the car or enjoying our collection of CDs at home is so enjoyable to me. I love the spiritual, the contemporary and even the fun and silly pieces.

There is so much music out there to enjoy! Sacred Christmas music lifts the spirits and enlarges the soul. I love to sing Christmas carols and to be exposed to some new pieces.



This piece that was new to me. It's called Nativity Carol by John Rutter. We heard it at BYU yesterday and then I found this excellent performance of the same song on You Tube by the King's College Choir at Cambridge. Enjoy!

Keeping Christmas well - Day 3

I've admired the efforts of the many giving people who plan and coordinate the annual Festival of Trees that takes place in Salt Lake City every year. Thousands of people donate their time, finances and talents to make Christmas decorations and trees to sell with all the proceeds going to the Primary Children's medical center. I was a visiting teacher to a woman who went every year to just help set everything up, wrap the trees once they were sold and then deliver them to the people or businesses who bought the trees. She wasn't a young woman and it took considerable time, energy and skill to help. She said that is was her special way to give back to others at Christmas time. She served with a smile on her face even if her back was aching.
This year some of our good friends lost their little four year old grandson to a brain tumor just a couple of weeks ago. This news clip was done on little Rex and their family, telling their story and of the goodness of people who know how to keep Christmas well. His daddy wrote this blog documenting their journey over the last eight months of his illness. It is filled with faith, hope and love, even when facing the worst possible nightmare. I admire the strength and courage of people who don't lose hope and who move forward with faith.

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Keeping Christmas well - Day 2

At the top of my list of people who knew how to keep Christmas well is my Dad. He and Mother were able to create Christmas magic that I don't think I have been able to completely replicate in our home. He grew up in a humble home. The emphasis at Christmas time was on some special foods, family games and interaction, a small tree and a few gifts. He brought those Christmas values into his own family and added his own special brand of mystery and anticipation as Christmas grew closer each year. Christmas was a highly anticipated event because they made it so special and fun. They put their whole hearts into the careful preparation of the gift giving, the holiday meals and activities.
I remember so well sitting by the large picture windows of our home in Rupert watching for Mom and Dad to come back from Christmas shopping. If they ever had to "run to town" and get a few things or go grocery shopping, many of us kids got to hop into the car and tag along. But not with Christmas shopping. They went by themselves and we knew that special surprises were surely to result from their shopping adventures. I would often listen to the old Christmas records of Nat King Cole, Sing along with Mitch Miller, Julie Andrews and of course the Mormon Tabernacle choir while waiting for them to return. I would try and sneak a peak when they returned and see what they had in the truck, but they were careful and crafty and they protected their secrets well. The anticipation and excitement would just build and build.
Since Dad was a master carpenter, he made many of the gifts he gave us children himself. A rocking horse, a little dish cupboard, baby cradles and such. Mom was an expert seamstress who would actually sew us doll clothes, make us beautiful Christmas dresses and sew whatever else she set her mind to. I loved receiving those home-made gifts.
I remember going into town to pick out the fresh Christmas tree at the little lot behind a small grocery store, not far from our church. For years the fresh tree was set up in the living room. A few years later they began to get a "flocked" Christmas tree that was sprayed with white fake snow that gave it a special ambiance and formality. As the years went by, we would have a color coordinated fancy tree in the living room and a smaller less formal tree in the family room. I can picture many of the ornaments we used to decorate those trees. Remember those Styrofoam balls with macaroni glued to them that were stray painted gold? Classic!
My Mom was an amazing cook. She would prepare a seven course meal and serve it on Christmas eve. Since we would often leave later on Christmas day to travel to Logan/Clarkston to visit the grandparents, she decided to cook her big meal on Christmas eve. And a lovely meal it was, complete with ALL the trimmings. We were expected to come to the meal dress in our Sunday best. A meal that took all day to cook deserved some respect. We would eat on her best china with our best crystal and silverware. It was a classy meal.
Afterward, we would have a Christmas program. Everyone in the family was expected to participate and do something on the program. We could play the piano, read a story, tell a poem, etc. There weren't any singing solos performed since that wasn't our forte, but we enjoyed singing some Christmas carols together and to finish the program, Dad would read the Christmas story out of the Bible.
After the program it was time to get to bed. Santa would be coming and we had to be to sleep so that he could visit our home. Many years there would be a loud knock at the door to let us know that Santa was in our neighborhood and that we'd better get to bed. Some years we could hear the reindeer or see a sparkler on the lawn to show that he was nearby.
Then it was time to get to bed and just lay awake, too excited to sleep. The anticipation was terrible! I'd stay away for hours and hours, or wake up and look at the clock. I'd listen carefully for any unusual noises and have my heart pounding with anticipation!
Finally, early in the morning, around 6:30 or 7:00 am, we would hear the magic words from our Dad - "Good gall, he's been here!!!" The Christmas tree lights would be plugged in and we would run into the room to see our stockings sitting in a chair or on the couch by a pile of gifts from Santa. It was so exciting! As I sit here at a computer all these years later, I can remember those emotions with such clarity!
We would look at our gifts, dump out our stockings and scream and jump for joy! I do believe that this scene brought a lot of happiness and joy to my parents. They would sit (probably exhausted) and watch their seven kids enjoy themselves. As I think of what they did and how they did it, I marvel at their ability to create such magic at Christmas! I'm so grateful to them both. They didn't have a ton of money, but they were so ingenious with what they did have and so generous and thoughtful.
We would then open the wrapped gifts under the tree. We drew names among the children and I remember making many of the gifts I gave my brothers and sisters over the years. I'd try and make something special that I hoped they would enjoy. I'd also made our parents a gift or I would buy some small gift to give to them. I always enjoyed giving them a gift and seeing their faces when they opened it.
My dad had an old movie camera and he would record (without sound) these Christmas morning extravaganzas! We have those movies on DVD now and they are cherished recordings of special memories.
I salute my parents! They truly knew how to keep Christmas well and I love them for it!

Keeping Christmas well - Day 1

“….and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God Bless Us, Every One!”

I love this closing to Dicken's Christmas Carol. We attend the play almost every year at our local Hale Theater, and it is always enjoyable to be reminded that generosity and service are some of the reasons for the holiday season.
Sometimes for me it can feel like I have one foot in the holy – the true reasons and meaning of this season, and the other foot deeply and busily emerged in the preparations, decorations, baking, shopping, and wrapping. What I want to try to do this year is not see these as separate things but pull all the seemingly busy work into the holy – prepare with joy; decorate with gladness; bake and shop with the true intention of making my friends and family happy; wrap and prepare with a peaceful heart intent on preparing myself too to celebrate the birth of Christ.

The ghost of Christmas past will visit my blog and share some examples of keeping Christmas well throughout the month.

This interesting read about how A Christmas Carol influenced Christmas traditions is from Wiki:

Legacy

Whilst the phrase 'Merry Christmas' was popularized following the appearance of the story,^[48] and the name 'Scrooge' and exclamation 'Bah! Humbug!' have entered the English language,^[49] Ruth Glancy argues the book's singular achievement is the powerful influence it has exerted upon its readers. In the spring of 1844, The Gentleman's Magazine attributed a sudden burst of charitable giving in Britain to Dickens' novella; in 1874, Robert Louis Stevenson waxed enthusiastic after reading Dickens' Christmas books and vowed to give generously; and Thomas Carlyle expressed a generous hospitality by staging two Christmas dinners after reading the book.^[50] In America, a Mr. Fairbanks attended a reading on Christmas Eve in Boston, Massachusetts in 1867, and was so moved he closed his factory on Christmas Day and sent every employee a turkey.^[27] In the early years of the 20th century, the Queen of Norway sent gifts to London's crippled children signed "With Tiny Tim's Love"; Sir Squire Bancroft raised £20,000 for the poor by reading the tale aloud publicly; and Captain Corbett-Smith read the tale to the troops in the trenches of World War I.^[51]
According to historian Ronald Hutton, the current state of observance of Christmas is largely the result of a mid-Victorian revival of the holiday spearheaded by A Christmas Carol. Hutton argues that Dickens sought to construct Christmas as a family-centered festival of generosity, in contrast to the community-based and church-centered observations, the observance of which had dwindled during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.^[52] In superimposing his secular vision of the holiday, Dickens influenced many aspects of Christmas that are celebrated today in Western culture, such as family gatherings, seasonal food and drink, dancing, games, and a festive generosity of spirit.^[53]