Blogmas Day 24: What Christmas Means to Me

We’ve made it. 24 days of Blogmas. 24 days of holiday fun and travel and shenanigans. Pulling out all the Christmas stops has really made me think a lot about what this all means to me.

Tradition is something I don’t have just yet for Christmas. A lot has changed over the years. We’ve lived in different houses, my great grandmother passed away, my parents divorced. I’ve moved out of state and worked jobs that made it impossible to spend time with anyone on Christmas Eve. I got married and gained a whole new set of family members. We bought our own home. There just hasn’t been ample time to create any traditions.

I can tell you what’s tried and true: what I believe in. I believe in celebrating the birth of a Savior who gave everything so that I may be forgiven of anything. That’s a concrete, always belief, that grows in importance each year to me.

I believe in family. Dad, mom, husband, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, cat, in-laws, friends who’ve become family. It doesn’t always work out to see everyone every year on Christmas Eve or Christmas day, but my heart is with everyone I love.

I believe in giving. Giving gifts, giving time, giving your smile to someone who may have difficulty in finding their own.

I believe in music. The same songs, over and over, for my entire life. Songs that everyone knows every word to.

I believe in cinema. It doesn’t matter what order, or if it’s watched beginning to end. Many beloved movies will become background noise to whatever fun is in the forefront.

I believe in magic. I know that some people are celebrating religiously, some culturally. Whatever way you participate in the holidays, I know the common ground for all of us is magic. It’s lights and love and winter. It’s believing, even if only for a day or two, in pure goodness, despite a world that is often dark.

Wherever you are, whatever you’re celebrating, I hope it’s happy and joyful. I appreciate the warmth you’ve shared with me over these past 24 days. To quote the legendary Clark Griswold, “The most enduring traditions of the season are best enjoyed in the warm embrace of kith and kin.” I’m going to do just that!

And to quote Community, “Merry Happy!” to you and yours. See you next week!

xoxo the Blogmas elf

P.S. I also believe in Vlogmas and the awesome friend I was able to do this with, side by side.

Over. And. Out.