Good tidings of great joy
Christmas imagery hasn’t changed much in the 105 years since Mr. MacIlroy had this postcard made. (Smithsonian Institution)
In Livingston and Evans’ classic holiday tune “Silver Bells,” there’s a line that goes, “In the air, there’s a feeling of Christmas.”
Reflecting on the song, I pondered whence this feeling of Christmas comes, more than two thousand years after the birth of its namesake. What is responsible for generating it?
It comes from the collective actions of many people, choosing to put up a string of lights here and bake cookies there; programming holiday music, theater, and movies; creating red and green and white flower arrangements; lighting candles; wrapping gifts; torturing children with that abhorrent “elf on the shelf” game; and taking part in all of the other things we have come to associate with the season.
And it’s from our own individual memories of Christmases past, be they tinged with nostalgia or indifference; these impressions are awakened each December to dictate the traditions and rituals we choose to perpetuate or ignore.
In reflecting on the visibility of Christmas and “the holiday season” in so many communities around the world, I can’t help but think about the power we have, alone and as a group, to create whatever kind of feeling we want.
In America, Christmas is the only time we seem intentionally to harness this power. But we’ve seen it arise at other times. For instance, just this year, when entire city blocks voiced their appreciation of health care workers in the early days of the pandemic. And after the murder of George Floyd.
As individuals, we always have the choice to view our memories and impressions through a specific lens and cultivate practices based on what we care about. We’re used to doing it at Christmas, when many people ramp up their hospitality, giving, and charity; we don’t have to be limited to that. What kind of rituals could we develop to foster our creativity, peace of mind, joy, and generosity all year long?
Every year, together and in their own minds, people create the feeling of Christmas. What else do we want to create?
Perhaps peace on earth and good will to all.