How to Celebrate Christmas From Christmas Tide by Elizabeth Harrison. All festival occasions,
when rightly used, have a unifying effect upon the family, neighborhood, Sunday,
school, church, state, or nation, in that they direct all
minds for the time being, away from self and in one direction toward one
central thought. The family festivals are an enormous power in the hands of the
mother who knows how to use them or right by means of the birthday anniversaries,
fourth of July, Thanksgiving, and above all Christmas, she can direct
her children's activities into channels of unselfish endeavor. Of all festivals of the year,
the Christmas festival is perhaps the least understood. That is, if one
is to judge by the manner in which the day is generally observed, why
do we celebrate Christmas? What are we celebrating? Is it not the greatest
manifestation of life unselfish love that has ever been revealed to man? And how
as a rule are children taught to observe it? Usually by expecting an undue
amount of attention, an unlimited amount of injudicious feeding, and a selfish exaction
of unneeded presence. Thus, egotism, greed, and selfishness are fostered where
love, generosity, and self denial should be exercised. The Christmas season is
the season in which the joy of giving should be so much greater than that
of receiving, that the child, through his own experiences, is prepared somewhat
to comprehend that great truth. God so loved the world that he gave his
only begotten son. For weeks beforehand, the mother can lay her plans by
means of which each child in the family may be led to make something,
or may do without something, or may earn money for the purchase of something,
which is to add to his Christmas job by enabling him to give to
those he loves, and also to some less fortunate child, who, but
for his thoughtfulness, would be without any Christmas cheer. In this endeavor,
of course, the mother must join with heart and soul, else the giving
is liable to become a mere formal fulfillment of a taxing obligation. Little children,
when rightly dealt with, enjoy putting themselves into the preparations with which they
are to surprise and please others fully as much, if not more than they
enjoy receiving. Presents so near as yet are they to the hand of God
that on selfish love is an easy thing to inculcate. Let me contrast two
preparations for Christmas which have passed under my own eye. In the first case,
I chanced to be in one of those crowded toy shops where hurried,
tired women are trying to fill out their lists of supposed obligations for the Christmas
season. All was confusion and haste, impatience, and more or less ill
humor. My attention was directed towards a handsomely dressed mother leading by the hand
an over dressed little girl of about eight years of age. The tones of
the woman's voice struck like a discord through my soul. Come on, said
she petulantly to the child, who had stopped for a moment to admire some
new toy. Come on, we have to give her something, and we
may as well buy her a couple of dolls. They'll be broken to pieces
in three weeks time, but that's no matter to us. Come on,
I have no time to wait. This last was accompanied by an impatient jerk
of the loitering child's arm. Thus, what should have been the joy of
Christmas giving was made to that child a disagreeable, unwilling and useless expenditure of
money. What part of the real Christmas spirit, the God Spirit which so
loved the world, could possibly come to a child from such a preper for
Christmas as this, Nor is it an unusual occurrence. Go into any of
our large stores and shops just before Christmas, and you will see scores of
women checking off their lists in a way which shows the relief of having one
more present settled. All the great, true and beautiful spirit of Christmas joy
is gone, and a mere commercial transaction, oftentimes a vulgar display of wealth,
has taken its place. On the other hand, go with me into
one of our quiet kindergartens, where the sunshine without is rivaled by the sunshine
within. See the white aproned teacher seat herself and gather around her the group
of eager children. Listen to the tones of her voice when she says,
Oh, children, children, you don't know what a happy time I am
going to let you have this Christmas. Just guess each one of you what
we are going to do to make this the gladdest, brightest, happiest Christmas
that ever was. Look into the eager little faces, anticipating a new joy,
knowing from past experience that the joy means effort, endeavor, self control,
and self denial. Nevertheless, that it means happiness too. Listen to
the eager questions and plans of the children. Some of them Alas are showing
their past training and selfishness by their you're going to give each of us a
present, or you're going to give a party. Then hear her gleeful answer,
No, guess again, it is better than that, better even than
that. Then, after a pause during which expectation stands on tiptoe, I
am going to let each one of you be a little Santa Claus. We
are going to make not only Mamma and Papa happy, but also some dear
little child who might not have a happy Christmas unless we gave one to him.
Listen as I have listened to the clapping of hands after such an announcement,
Look at the light which comes into the eyes. Notice the eager look
of interest upon each childish face as all seat themselves at the work table,
and the plan of work is more definitely laid out. Go as I have
gone morning after morning, and see these same children working patiently, earnestly,
and continuously upon the little gifts which are to make Christmas happier for some one
else. Will you then need to ask the question as to which is the
truer way of celebrating the Holy Christmas time? Not that I would have any
mother deprived of the pleasure of giving to her children, any more than I
would have her children robbed of their pleasure of giving to others. Let us
be careful that our gifts are not gifts of useless profusion, of such articles
as cultivate self indulgence, vanity, or indolence. Gifts for children should be
few and simple, such as are suggestive and will aid them in the future
drying out of their own inner thoughts. Or above all, let the joy
of having given of his best to some one else be the chief thought of
the glad Christmas time and of how to celebrate Christmas. By Elizabeth Harrison