The prompt for day two is “something good,” and, since Christmas continues for twelve days, it became that something good. But then…
…It became bittersweet. Unfortunately, among people I know, death came to visit not once but five times during the week between Christmas and new year’s eve. It made the whole season hard to celebrate, but, as it turned out, the celebration was worth having, mainly because I talked to people who I knew cared about me. They reminded me that people pass away, but love doesn’t and that every last one of these people would have had such a good Christmas if they could have.
I’ve known a lot of people who were as fascinated by collected little bits of information, as I am. Plus, I’m a history nerd. So, here is something interesting about the Christmas tree. There have been people decorating trees for millennia for various reasons. But in western Germany, the tradition of bringing the tree indoors at the time of the winter solstice came into being. They didn’t call it a Christmas tree. They called it a paradise tree, and they were celebrating the feast of Adam and Eve. I had no idea that was a thing. Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, which many people have said was an apple. They were punished for their misdeed of eating from the tree of knowledge with many unpleasant things, including mortality. Although Christmas trees are generally fir trees, apple trees are mentioned in Christmas music, in such songs as “Jesus Christ the Apple Tree,” which is probably my favorite Christmas song. The version I like best was set to music by English composer Elizabeth Poston. It’s beautiful and haunting and tinged with a bit of sadness, but life is tinged with a bit of sadness.
So here is something wild and odd about cats at Christmas time. Apparently, some Christmas cats are…. (dare I say it?) malevolent spirits!!! Should I tell Trinity? She already thinks that humans aren’t very bright and that the job of humans is to serve cats. Hmmm. Nah. I’ll just mention it here. This is what I read on line: “The Yule cat, or Jólakötturinn in Icelandic, is a giant, vicious cat from Icelandic Christmas folklore that eats children who don’t receive new clothes before Christmas Eve.” In other words, if you don’t give your kids a new fashion statement, they are going to become cat food. That’s terrible! You don’t even have to buy a lot of clothes for the kids. Just a pair of socks should suffice! Fortunately, there’s a version of the story that has the cat eating the food of people who didn’t update their wardrobes prior to Christmas, which is much better than turning the kids into cat food. Parents generally don’t like it, and the kids really dislike it. All in all, guard your food or give everyone socks or a pair of matching pajamas, which, apparently, is now a Christmas thing.
I decorated my door for Christmas and will “undecorate” on Sunday. It was fun to put up the Santas and all of the different fun images of the season. It’s good to do this because Christmas comes right after the winter solstice, when it feels as if darkness reigns. Well, in the northern hemisphere, that’s true. Happy decorations can help deal with the challenges of so many hours of darkness. I do have seasonal affective disorder, so I need the brightness and happiness of colorful decorations and fun trees and happy cats that are okay with just having a bowl of actual cat food.
Also, I remember that, when you have a broken heart, the thing to remember is that having a heart and that having the ability to love and cherish other human beings means that, sometimes, your heart is going to be broken. But that the memory of those you love and care about is tucked inside your heart and that is truly a good thing, whether you know it at the time or not. So my something good for today is colorful Christmas, which carries memories of love, friendship and shared, happy times. This particular image is a drawing that I made a few weeks ago. I used that image as part of a door decoration.
Question for you: When it feels the darkest, how do you find your joy?
I am so sorry for these losses. Winter is always a tough time of year because it seems like there are so many people we love and lose in one season. I find the joy in sharing stories and saying their names out loud. This way they are still inspiring us even if they aren’t with us.
Yes, absolutely say their name out loud. I was on Facebook reading about Cheryl G. She had a baby when she was very young and her mother made her give up the baby for adoption. Cheryl never married nor had another baby. A number of years later, Cheryl’s daughter found her and they built a relationship. Her daughter shared that story about her wonderful adoptive parents and about the joy of reconnecting with her birth mother. It was so kind and so full of heart and, even though the story started with heartbreak (Cheryl didn’t want to give up her daughter), it ended with joy when she understood that her daughter never blamed her and that she wanted that relationship.
I am always amazed by the stories of people’s lives.
Those are so adorable ♥ I keep saying I am going to make more time for crafts.
Thank you so much! Enjoy doing crafts. It will do nothing but make you happy.
Goodness! Five deaths in a week! I am certainly sorry for your loss!
I pray you can find peace, and solace in the days to come.
Thank you for the prayer. It is very much appreciated.
I’m so sorry for all of your losses!! When I have experienced life at its darkest, sometimes I couldn’t find any joy for a while. But over time, I am learning two things – to let myself feel whatever I feel, and to look for and find small joys wherever possible until I am able to recover a larger sense of joy. The kinder I am to myself, and the more I accept my feelings, the easier it is to cope with whatever darkness I am facing. Big hugs to you, Alice!
Thank you so much. This is so helpful and so good to know. Plus, I am grateful for the hugs!
The Icelandic people have many strange traditions, maybe that is why socks for Christmas has become so common. Ugly sweaters too.
My daughter is propagating a tradition that we have started, giving toothpaste and a brush in the stocking. (only one stocking?) Why not with all of the sweets that are eaten during the holidays.
I like that you use your own pictures in your blogs.
Is that a metal door and frame that you can use magnets to attach the decorations?
Best wishes to you for a happy, healthy and productive new year.
Blog on !
Yes, it’s a metal door, hence I can attach things with magnets!
Thank you for the fun information about Iceland! I think that I am going to have to add Iceland to my bucket list!
And happy new year to you, too!