As you may have gathered, I didn’t grow up with stories of Santa, watchful elves or sleighs pulled by reindeer. Yes, I remember sitting on Santa’s lap at my dad’s company Christmas party and I saw most of the Christmas animated shows. But that wasn’t the culture of our home. Mom decorated the tree, JUST SO. Our share of the decorating went into setting up the nativity scene.
Delicately we would pull the home made manger out of storage, careful not to lose any of the straw Grandpa had so fastidiously glued to the roof and floor. Next were the boxes of all the figurines, Fontanini, collected over many years. Wrapped in tissue, yellowed with time, were the camels, cows and sheep. With renewed delight, I would take out the three kings, tracing with my fingers the folds of their rich-looking garments. There were the lowly shepherds, the angel, Joseph. Mary with her tilted head and wide spread hands, presenting to us her infant son.
Setting up the manger every Christmas was a quiet, contemplative moment, even when I was a small child. The squabbling with my siblings, the whining over chores or complaints of winter boredom stopped. Placing each figurine in their place, turned toward the infant king, I would listen to Mom or Dad read the nativity story from the Bible. Once set, we would sit, sip a cup of cocoa and look at the scene or stare at the twinkling lights on the tree.
Many years ago I stopped going to Mass. Between living in a city without a car and being in love with a man who didn’t care much for the church, my faith took a back seat to the life I chose to live. But every year, as carols start to play on the radio, wreaths deck the walls and halls and annoying Lexus commercials are on constantly, I long for those traditions of setting the nativity scene.
Next year Maddy will be four. I hope it will be a good year to start traditions of our own. And I pray for the words I will need to begin the conversation about faith.
Thank you MamaKat for this writing prompt. I’ve wanted to write down these thoughts, recall some of these memories, have a contemplative moment in the midst of the madness of shopping, deadlines, and travel.
What a lovely set! I bet you come up with wonderful traditions.
What a lovely memory. I wish we could get back to the quieter celebration of Christmas, instead of the rush of buying stuff that nobody really needs.
Man made God before he made Santa Claus, but except from that they are both interesting products of man’s fantasy >:)
I take Alex to see all the Christmas lights in our area every night. At first, I struggled with how to talk about the nativity scenes some people put out. How could I explain a concept as big as God?
But, now I just talk. Alex loves even the simple idea of celebrating a baby being loved by his mommy and daddy. For now, that’s enough for me.
What? Adonis never bought you a new Lexus for Christmas wrapped in a big red bow?
I envy you being at the beginning of your children’s traditions.
And I am so so so happy that you’re looking purposefully toward establishing them.
You only get one shot at creating traditions Maddy will remember even as she grows a family of her own.
No pressure though. Only love. And magic. And wonder.
GREAT story! Isn’t it amazing how children kind of renew our faith and memories of our own past?
I know I’m a wiseass, especially on Sundays . . . but matters of faith are dear to my heart. When push comes to shove, I’m not a believer — but I truly admire those who are, and I wish I could allow myself to be.
Stephen Colbert & Elvis Costello’s “There Are Much Worse Things To Believe In” includes the following:
Call me silly, call me sappy
Call me many things, the first of which is happy
You doubt, but you’re sad
I don’t, but I’m glad
I guess we’re even.
Every time I hear those words, I start thinking about the wonder that my kids are going to have in the years to come around this time.
Lovely story and beautiful nativity scene. Also, don’t stress too much about conversing about faith. I don’t believe there is a right or wrong to it and if you do believe in a Higher Power than I’m certain you’ll be led to say what’s on your heart. Merry Christmas and have fun starting new traditions! PS. I laughed at the Lexus comment….soooo true!
And now the tweeting we were doing makes sense. I thought I remembered you not doing Santa as a kid.
I want to say, though, cut yourself some slack w/ your kiddo. She’s so little she may not grasp the concepts fully – so choose a few and let her mind wander. My boys? They love the magic of Santa AND they know we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Last year they asked if we could bake him a cake and sing happy birthday to him. So we do. But also? They think Jesus is Santa’s dad {or the other way around?} See, it’s really big concepts for them. Bits at a time, hon. You’ll do what’s right for both of your babes. Can’t go wrong.
holy crap.
i think we had the SAME nativity scene. I got chills when I saw that picture.
my grandmother has the entire fontanini bethlehem. it’s a sight and a half.
i kept setting up the nativity for many years after i turned my back on faith. i don’t know why; it just felt like something you “do” on christmas, if that makes sense.
i’ve taken up with a harder-core non-believer than i will ever be. it’s hard not to feel like a traitor when listening to aaron neville sing “o holy night…”
hmm. think i just found a new blog topic…
Good for you that you even are thinking about broaching the discussion of faith. I have been thinking for years of what I want my kids to believe. Now, my oldest is almost 16 and he’s a self-proclaimed atheist. Go me ~sarcasm button…where is it?~