Newfie June - Christmas Traditions


Our younger daughter, Victoria, is attending Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. She called the other night and was in a terrible state. Midterms are upon her, she had been burning the midnight oil studying for several nights in a row and was exhausted. We all know the feeling! On top of all of that, however, she had a bout of homesickness. Until you live away from home, you don’t know how much comfort and support you draw from your parents, siblings, friends and even pets. I think Mom’s home cooking ranks pretty high up there on the “miss list” as well.

There was not much I could do for her except offer some kind encouragement, urge her to go to bed at a descent hour for a couple of nights (that would make a huge difference) and remind her how close the Christmas break was. I tried to take her mind off her worries and cheer her up by chatting about our Christmas traditions. As I talked about all of the familiar decorations I would put up, the favourite cookies I would make and the get-togethers we would have, she gradually stopped crying, calmed down and started adding her favourite Christmas memories to the conversation. Best of all…this year was “our turn” to have the whole family together.

Our older daughter, Stephanie, lives in Northern Alberta, where her beau was born and raised. This will be their third Christmas together and they have been taking turns spending one Christmas with us and then one with his parents. Last year was “their turn” so we had the couple for a few days but they had to go back home the day before Christmas Eve. It was a lonely holiday. It just was not the same! I found it difficult but did not realize how much everyone else disliked our not being together at holiday time.

As Victoria and I continued our phone conversation and she related her best Christmas memories, they always involved our ritual of going to The Hawkes’ house on Christmas Eve. It started me thinking about the love of friendship and how positively it impacts our lives.

We moved back to Canada, after a year in Germany, back in 1987. Some of our friends had moved to other cities or provinces in our absence. I felt as if Calgary had become foreign to us and like I had to start all over again.

One day, shortly after we moved into the little house we would rent for three years; a lady came to my door, introduced herself as Patricia and said she lived three doors down. She wanted to invite me to a coffee get together at her house the next morning to introduce me to all of my new neighbours. I couldn’t believe it! I was thrilled that there were young mothers on the block that I could make friends with.

Well, without getting into the minute details, I did go to coffee and thus started a strong friendship with three of the ladies that continues to this day. The strongest bond, however, was with the little Irish fireball…Patricia.

Patricia and her husband, Robert, were both blessed to have both of their families living in and around Calgary so holiday times were special. They knew that Steve and I were from different (and distant) provinces and many holidays were spent alone. When Christmas came, so did the invitation to join them after early Mass on Christmas Eve. We would share a Christmas drink, let the kids play together to pass the time until Santa came, and exchange small, but precious, Christmas gifts with each other.

This year will mark seventeen Christmases since that first. With the exception of two years when we traveled to spend Christmas with our parents, we have spent every Christmas Eve with them. My children can no longer remember a Christmas without the Hawkes family playing a big part in our traditional celebrations.

I don’t know why, but it is hard to tell someone how very much their kindness, generosity and loving nature has impacted your life. Well…here it is Patricia and Robert…I’m telling you. We consider ourselves truly blessed to have met you and your dear family. We thank God for having brought you into our lives and know that we are all the richer for having known your friendship.

Of course, we never know what the future holds and how many more holidays we will all be able to be together. The point is, I think, that we should treasure these times as they come and treat them as the precious gifts they are. No one loves you like your family does (“real” or adopted).

As Christmas nears and we start thinking of gifts we need to buy for our loved ones, remember that the best gift of all is the pleasure of their company and love. Make expressions of love the biggest part of your holiday traditions, for that is what your children hold dear and take with them into their adulthood and pass on to their children.

No matter what your religion or celebration, I wish your holy days to be filled with joy and friendship. Give your friends and loved ones an extra hug for me.

From Newfie June and her family…I wish you peace, joy and blessings of the heart in the coming New Year.

Cheers,

© Newfie June




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