Christmas Day was always a family time for us. Then on Boxing Day we would all descend on our other Grandparents house and have another “Christmas day” complete with more presents from our extended family. Nan loved us all to come and for many years all of us children were squeezed onto a blanket covered wooden plank balanced between two dining chairs so that the whole family could sit at the table altogether.
At 17 I started work, training to become a florist. That first Christmas, I did not know what had hit me. The “Holly Man” arrived on the first Monday of December to sell large bunches of Holly to the shop. I was instructed to count the bunches into the shop just in case our “Travelling Trader”(who we only ever saw once as year and could never be contacted!) could not count them accurately. For the next few days I had to stand at my bench mossing wire wreath frames in readiness for the hundreds of holly wreaths the senior florists would put together. The wiring of the pieces of holly was a painful experience, but I might add after a few days my hands were numb and although very red and sore I did not seem to notice the sharp holly digging into my young hands as I continued to wire bunch after bunch. That first year I was allowed to assemble two holly wreaths myself which I took great pride in doing as they would be placed on my Nan’s grave. Over the years as a florist I could not possibly count the number of holly wreaths I have made. But I have certainly had some very sore hands.
Now I have a family of my own, Christmas is still a very special time, maybe even more so. I love all the preparation, the decorating of the tree; although I seemed to have lost the job to my daughter in the last couple of years; Mince pie making, turkey buying, table decoration making. December is very busy in our home as my husband and son were both December babies so we have birthdays to celebrate before Christmas is upon us. This year I also have the job of remaking the Churches advent candle arrangement. Then there is a production of Grease to see, numerous musical end of term concerts and performances, and rehearsals for the Church annual Carols by Candlelight service where this year my daughter is to sing a solo, so I shall be a very proud Mum. Oh yes, I have also been invited to write a Christmas piece for a certain online Mojacar Magazine!!(But I have enjoyed doing that)
Before Christianity, the pagan festival of Yuletide was celebrated from about 20th December to early January, when the sun is at its lowest point in the sky. The sacred colours of that festival were red and green,(colours now associated with Christmas) and the Yule log was ceremoniously brought to the hearth and kept burning throughout the festivities. The holly and the ivy, together with other greenery, were also brought inside to create decorations to keep evil spirits away. When Christianity was established, the church regularised the situation by decreeing 25th December as the date of Christ's birth which conveniently allowed the two celebrations to be melded together. I realise that December 25th was a "convenient”
At 17 I started work, training to become a florist. That first Christmas, I did not know what had hit me. The “Holly Man” arrived on the first Monday of December to sell large bunches of Holly to the shop. I was instructed to count the bunches into the shop just in case our “Travelling Trader”(who we only ever saw once as year and could never be contacted!) could not count them accurately. For the next few days I had to stand at my bench mossing wire wreath frames in readiness for the hundreds of holly wreaths the senior florists would put together. The wiring of the pieces of holly was a painful experience, but I might add after a few days my hands were numb and although very red and sore I did not seem to notice the sharp holly digging into my young hands as I continued to wire bunch after bunch. That first year I was allowed to assemble two holly wreaths myself which I took great pride in doing as they would be placed on my Nan’s grave. Over the years as a florist I could not possibly count the number of holly wreaths I have made. But I have certainly had some very sore hands.
Now I have a family of my own, Christmas is still a very special time, maybe even more so. I love all the preparation, the decorating of the tree; although I seemed to have lost the job to my daughter in the last couple of years; Mince pie making, turkey buying, table decoration making. December is very busy in our home as my husband and son were both December babies so we have birthdays to celebrate before Christmas is upon us. This year I also have the job of remaking the Churches advent candle arrangement. Then there is a production of Grease to see, numerous musical end of term concerts and performances, and rehearsals for the Church annual Carols by Candlelight service where this year my daughter is to sing a solo, so I shall be a very proud Mum. Oh yes, I have also been invited to write a Christmas piece for a certain online Mojacar Magazine!!(But I have enjoyed doing that)
Before Christianity, the pagan festival of Yuletide was celebrated from about 20th December to early January, when the sun is at its lowest point in the sky. The sacred colours of that festival were red and green,(colours now associated with Christmas) and the Yule log was ceremoniously brought to the hearth and kept burning throughout the festivities. The holly and the ivy, together with other greenery, were also brought inside to create decorations to keep evil spirits away. When Christianity was established, the church regularised the situation by decreeing 25th December as the date of Christ's birth which conveniently allowed the two celebrations to be melded together. I realise that December 25th was a "convenient”
date for the early church to say that Christ had been born then but it the fact that we do celebrate his birth is what is important.
I understand that not everybody is a believer of the Christmas story or even Christian, however the winter months for some people can be a very lonely and dark time, and this last year has bought upset and a lot of misery and worry to some, and I believe that any festival which teaches us to be generous and kind should be welcomed and enjoyed.
May I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very Happy 2010.
I understand that not everybody is a believer of the Christmas story or even Christian, however the winter months for some people can be a very lonely and dark time, and this last year has bought upset and a lot of misery and worry to some, and I believe that any festival which teaches us to be generous and kind should be welcomed and enjoyed.
May I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very Happy 2010.
Avda. Ciudad de Barcelona, Local 7 - 8
04620 VERA (Almeria)
