Magic Christmas!
Now is a time to celebrate and get together with family and
friends. Every year we do the same things such as buy Christmas gifts, prepare
the Christmas decorations, send cards, visit family, friends, community,
prepare a special dinner or make family plans to travel, etc. We do many rituals
to nurture our Christmas spirit. We respond to the season, ideally without feeling
media influence or social network pressure. However, are we really present with
our hearts and souls in each of these rituals? Do we respond without
obligation?
When I was a child we had many family rituals before, during
and after Christmas. I still remember the smell of many different fruits and
cinnamon. When they were warmed up on the stove, the whole house began to feel
the embrace of the holidays! I also remember the texture of the special candies
of the season, the taste of the foods such as bacalao, romeritos and turkey. I
enjoyed seeing the diversity of color of the piñatas and the multicolor lights
of the Christmas tree and the Nativity, and hearing the sounds of the melodious
words of the letanía in the Posadas. The warm hugs of dad, mom, brothers and
sisters, relatives, friends, neighbors, in any way, and the expression of
kindness, gratitude, generosity and love bloomed throughout these days. It was
amazing to see how my parents created a magic Christmas for us!
Now, being married and far away from my family origin, now with
my own family, we maintain those rituals and incorporate new ones. Year by year
we build our own Christmas celebration.
Here are some suggestions to create a magic Christmas:
-Ask yourself which season’s rituals have real meaning for
you.
-Ask your family and friends about their favorite rituals
and share yours.
-During this season, try to be honest, kind and grateful
with yourself.
-Avoid creating expectations in others, and feel joy.
How you can do this? By being mindful, in the present time, with
all your senses!
Merry Magical Christmas!
