Christmas Holiday is meant to be a unique period of welcoming the new year by family gathering and commemoration of all we experienced in the past year. We host a traditional feast, hold celebrating parties, unwrap gifts with friends, go to the cinema with lover, do Mass in the church, hang out and view the festive decorations in the streets. These traditions will be passed on for generations to come, which gives us a sense of identity and belonging that lasts deeply inside, helping us celebrate love, goodwill and joy to the present and the future. Thus we have a lot of preparations to fulfill the approaching Christmas, and our moms are no doubt the busiest one.
As for my family, just after Thanksgiving, about 3 weeks earlier than Christmas Eve, the preparation will start under my mom’s leadership. She is really a smart woman who always arranges everything in order and never leave anything to the last minute. Even though, Christmas is inevitably a stressful time for her, especially 2020, a year suffered a lot from COVID-19.
Usually we would not cut off Christmas budget, because all my family think it’s a holiday about celebration and all cost is valuable. What comes first is a family chat about who is going to host Christmas feast, who will be attending, how many guests may need to stay over, is there someone that has food allergy or preference and etc. Then my mom will schedule a list of all we need to buy and two Christmas recipes, one traditional and the other creative. Of course, ugly Christmas sweaters for each family member is also considered. Meanwhile we will send the cards of invitations and best wishes out, ensuring our relatives and friends would receive them before Christmas.
Next we will have a thrilling journey of shopping everyday within following 2 weeks, after which we will begin to prepare for Christmas food, and my mom is definitely the big chef good at making roast turkey, sauced prime rib, fondue, cardamom bread, crab dip, fruit cake, mulled wine, marshmallows, candy canes, lebkuchen and so on. It’s definitely exhausted for adults, but extremely interesting for kids. I’m the one who take charge of driving my parents, my wife and kids to the town for shopping. Stores and malls launch varieties of discounts, with all sorts of festive foods and ornaments on sale. Crazy excited little ones like accompanying their grandparents, especially when strolling around malls and watching all kinds of commodities, even if that’s extra-crowded. But not for this year, because of the danger caused by the virus.
This year is different. But we are still also busy in decorating, especially the most symbolic Christmas tree and wreath, cut from the farm nearby, smelling good and full of life. In addition, we add some colorful light-bulbs along the contour of our house and make a pattern of Santa Claus on the roof, and it’s specially fabulous at night. Well, as for me, I ordered a compact vanity table for my mom, a mirror surface nightstand for my wife and two electric Maserati ride on toy cars for my lovely son and daughter on Amazon. The vanity table is made of solid wood and premium MDF through graceful craft. Its separate storage inner can exactly meet my mom’s needs. And my wife likes making up or dressing herself looking into the mirror. Besides, both of my kids are obsessed with car racing. Yeah, I’m almost proud of myself, a rare considerate daddy who knows what his family wants the most!
Lastly, for God’s blessing, my families are all healthy and safe.
We pray for everyone. Merry Christmas!
