Speaker 1: 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