Holiday china and an ode to Christmas
Several weeks ago, I read an article listing a number of holiday traditions that are disappearing, such as caroling, writing Christmas cards, setting the table for a formal dinner and shopping for gifts in person as opposed to online. At the time, I’d just written a column about shopping locally, which is something I believe strongly in and put into practice as much as possible.
Living in a place like Western North Carolina with so many artists, craftspeople and unique small businesses, it’s quite easy to purchase incredible gifts in person.
I’d also just ordered Christmas cards. Granted, people don’t hand write notes as much as in years past, but I feel a good number of folks still send out tangible cards, which are always fun to receive in the mail. Additionally, caroling continues to be a popular activity in our small community with churches, families and other organizations offering opportunities to sing.
The item on the list that got me thinking was the one about setting the table for a formal Christmas dinner. My late mother had beautiful china dishes painted with holly leaves and berries. She always served the big meal on Christmas Eve because on Christmas Day, after we opened our gifts from Santa, we drove down to Greenville to visit both sets of grandparents and other extended family members.
While she was cooking the ham and side dishes for the meal, she’d ask my sister and me to get the Christmas china and wipe everything down with a wet paper towel because after sitting unused in the cabinet for an entire year, they inevitably collected dust. The set didn’t only include dinner plates. We also had smaller plates for bread or salad as well as cups and saucers for tea and coffee.
When my dad sold the house he shared with my mom, the dishes were packed away and I hadn’t thought much about them, and since her passing, we’ve used our normal dishes to eat Christmas dinner. After reading the article about lost traditions, I went to the storage building and found the two boxes that contained my mom’s Christmas china. I spent the next day pulling them out, one by one, and wiping each down with a wet paper towel. This year we’ll be eating Christmas dinner on plates decorated with holly and berries.
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As you prepare to celebrate this special season, I want to leave you with an ode and encourage your family to always embrace traditions, both new and old.
ODE TO CHRISTMAS
December arrives and the task is clear
To joyfully anticipate holiday cheer
Then it passes too fast with a flurry at the end
To ensure cookies are baked and presents sent
We plan and prepare so that all is right
Trim the tree with ornaments and lights
Gifts are wrapped in bows of red
The family sits down to break the bread
Children giggle and hope and pray
That when they awake on Christmas Day
Toys are found and stockings packed
Crumbs are left from Santa’s sweet snack
All this is fun and that we know
But it’s not what brings the true Christmas glow
Love and faith should be at the heart
Of this night that’s been blessed from the very start
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS!
(Susanna Shetley is a writer, editor and digital media specialist who lives in Waynesville. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..)
