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!

--Ana