Read and make your own Christmas memories

19 mins read
Nativity
Shutterstock

The year 2020 has not gone the way we expected or hoped when we turned the calendar page back in January. Likewise, our Christmas celebrations might look a bit different. But year after year, readers remind us with their recollections and verse that Christmas is not about picture-perfect holiday cheer. What started with the most unprecedented event in history — the birth of God incarnate in a lowly stable — now is remembered year after year with our own celebrations that don’t always fit our expectations.

For many years, Our Sunday Visitor has asked our readers to send in their favorite Christmas memories, as well as their original Christmas poems. Continuing on the tradition in a year when we need it most, we are honored to share these stories and poems to remind all that despite certain limitations, each Christmas is an opportunity for beautiful memories that will last a lifetime. This year is no different. So, enjoy these stories and poems, and then go make your own memories. And as always, merry Christmas!

Christmas memories

Meeting a best friend

The most meaningful Christmas that I experienced happened in 1982. I am an Alexian Brother, and at that time our training center for new members was on the north side of Chicago. As part of the training, I encouraged the men entering to volunteer in soup kitchens, food pantries, visit nursing homes, etc. Personally, I visited several nursing homes in our area about twice a week.

At one of the nursing homes, I met Eula, who was a very prayerful, smiling African American resident. She had no living relatives and very few friends. Therefore, she especially enjoyed my visits. Knowing this, I decided to invite her to our training center for Christmas dinner. When I asked if she would like to come to our dinner, her eyes lit up, and she became very excited.

Because I knew a resident at another nursing home, I decided to ask her (Emily) as well. She stated, “Oh, that will be great!”

On Christmas Day I picked up both of them. What was so interesting is that Eula had lived in a Black community all of her life, while Emily lived in a white neighborhood all of her life.

They immediately bonded. Emily wore a Christmas-like red dress. Eula was very proud of the one dress she considered a “party dress.” Apparently, she hardly ever wore it. I will never forget the big safety pin that took the place of a button on the upper part of the dress. One could tell how she loved that dress, which she hadn’t worn in years.

Both Emily and Eula told various stories and laughed. They had a remarkably great time at our Christmas dinner. Before I took them back to the nursing homes they exchanged addresses and phone numbers. For about seven years, they phoned each other every day and became the best of friends until Eula died. I will always remember the sorrow that Emily demonstrated upon hearing of the death of Eula.

Every time I visited Emily, she told me how much she missed her best friend and how now there was a big void in her life. She said, “Eula gave me meaning in my life. She mattered to me.”
— Brother Warren Longo, Milwaukee
 

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Ježiško a Vianoce — Little Jesus and Christmas

While most children in the United States receive gifts on Christmas Day, in Slovakia the custom of gift-giving begins on the night of Dec. 5, the eve of the Feast of St. Nicholas, or Sviatok svätého Mikuláša. Good children receive treats while those who were bad might get a lump of coal. The tradition continues on Christmas Eve when children receive some presents and older family members might exchange gifts. But the focus is on Ježiško (Little Jesus — pronounced Yey-zheesh-ko), and gifts are from him. According to tradition, Ježiško flies through a window on Christmas Eve (Štedrý večer) sometime after dinner. That assures that the children will eat the traditionally sacred meal rather than playing with any new presents.

Unlike most American children, we received our gifts on Christmas Eve, when we thought Santa came. We children would lie down after enjoying the Vilija supper with its scrumptious mushroom soup (hubová polievka). It was easier to try to sleep when we were very little, when we were accustomed to naps. Once we got older, there was no thought of sleeping, but only listening for reindeer hoofs. Or we would look out the window hoping to spot St. Nick, just as Slovak children might to see if they could spot Ježiško. Then we were roused and told Santa had come, but he had whisked away because he had lots of other homes to visit. Sure enough, the milk and cookies left for him were eaten. Once up, we began our wanton search for toys, and had no enthusiasm for such useless gifts like clothes!

Only now do I realize that my mother was practicing the coming of Ježiško as she did when she was a child. She had just substituted Santa.
— Michael J. Kopanic, Jr., via email
 

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Christmas abroad

Because of the pandemic, the holidays may look different this year. But the call of home and the longing to share the joy of the season with family will never go away, no matter how much things change.

Things changed a great deal for me in 1967. That August, my parents and my sister left the United States to serve as missionaries in Bolivia while I stayed behind to go to college. When I visited my folks during Christmas vacation of 1969 — my first trip outside the country and first time on a plane — I hadn’t seen them in over two years.

Although our Yuletide gathering place was new, the way we celebrated was essentially unchanged. We talked, laughed and shared a big meal. And, of course, there was a tree and presents underneath it for everyone. But, as someone once said, “It’s not what’s under the tree, but who is gathered around it.” Despite spending the holidays in a foreign land, I felt like I was at home because I was worshipping the birth of the Savior with my loved ones.

Why is Christmas so much about family? Maybe it’s because the Holy Family was present on that first Noel. Mary and Joseph had come on a lengthy journey from Nazareth to the stable in Bethlehem, where Our Lord was born. There, they turned their place of shelter into a humble abode, and wherever members of a household come together, that’s home.

During these long nights and dark days of COVID, we yearn for the coming of the Light of the World, who will dispel the darkness and renew our hope. And may that hope remain alive in each of us this Christmas, whether we celebrate along with our loved ones or far from them.
— Melvin S. Arrington, Jr., University of Mississippi
 

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Together in the pew

One Christmas memory that stands out from my childhood is that of Midnight Mass at Sacred Heart Church in Portage, Pennsylvania.

My father was a steelworker, and on this particular Christmas Eve, he was working the 3-11 p.m. shift. We always attended Midnight Mass together as a family, but this year, it didn’t seem possible. My mom didn’t drive, so my Uncle Don gave us a ride to Mass. Dressed in our Sunday best, we walked up the aisle and into our pew.

The Christmas trees smelled wonderful, and the choir was singing the beautiful Polish Christmas carols. We didn’t understand the words, but the melodies and harmonies were so beautiful we still remember them to this day. As we listened to the songs we loved so much, someone stepped into the end of our pew. We were so surprised and thrilled to see our dad, also dressed in his Sunday best clothes. His co-workers knew he was Catholic and normally attended Midnight Mass with his family, so they came in a little early so he could get home and be with his family at Mass. Now it really seemed like Christmas!

After Mass, we tasted a bit of the Christmas ham, and went off to bed to wait to see what Santa would bring. But whatever he brought couldn’t top the gift of having our dad with us! And as an adult, every Christmas Eve, I remember their thoughtfulness and the gift they gave to all of us.
— Catherine M. Cicero, Portage, Pennsylvania
 

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Stille Nacht tradition

Many times when I meet someone, they will say to me, “You are the priest who sang ‘Silent Night’ in many languages.” This custom goes back to when I was a child. My home parish was St. Joseph in Hammond, Indiana. German was used in the parish until the First World War. After the war, the only time German was used was at Midnight Mass when someone sang Stille Nacht.

I became pastor of St. Joseph Parish in 1979. It was then that I introduced the custom again of singing “Silent Night” in German.

Over the years and in many parishes, I added new languages to the “Silent Night.” I think I had a total of 10 languages. I would select a few of them and always sang them after Communion. I had sheets printed so people could sing along, and I would ask someone who played the guitar to accompany. The final verse was always in English, and everyone stood and sang together.

People always remembered the singing of “Silent Night” at Mass on Christmas. I continued this custom at all the parishes of which I was pastor until I retired in 2009.
— Father Joseph Vamos, via email
 

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

A final Christmas together

It was Christmas Eve 2010. My husband was a new Catholic, having come into the church eight months prior at the Easter Vigil on April 4, our 33rd wedding anniversary. Our only child was home from college. She was no longer active in our faith, although she was very happy and proud of her dad becoming Catholic.

My husband very much wanted us all to go to Midnight Mass together, as our daughter was soon leaving to return to college after the holiday. It was a special and peace-filled evening. We three never felt such closeness and felt a renewed spiritual strength. We had no inkling that just a mere four days later, our lives would be forever changed. My husband was diagnosed with widespread metastatic liver cancer, and he passed away just four weeks after diagnosis.

We have the last Christmas pictures together, the beautiful memory of that peaceful Christmas Eve and my husband’s joy in receiving the Eucharist. I can now clearly see God’s hand and his perfect timing to bring my husband to his eternal home! I will forever cherish that most meaningful Christmas Eve!
— Lynn Williams, Jackson, Tennessee
 

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

An unusual location for Midnight Mass

In the early days of St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Woodinville, Washington, we celebrated Masses in a junior high school cafeteria. Improvisation and making do were the guiding principles as we started the campaign for the building fund for the new church. The sight for the new parish was an old riding school with a large barn, which was used as the equestrian practice facility.

To accommodate parishioners and guests for the Christmas Masses, we decided to set up a worship space in the old barn. There was a dirt floor, a hay trailer and hay bales for the sanctuary, a feeding trough filled with hay for the creche, folding chairs for seats, no heat and a leaky roof — not the type of worship space you would expect to find in the suburbs of western Washington.

Christmas Eve was cold that year, and it was raining. Some of the folding chairs had to be moved from under the leaks in the roof. Some parishioners grumbled a bit because this was just not a “suitable place” for this very special Mass. Most, however, saw the hidden beauty of our makeshift worship space. I, for one, have never felt closer to Jesus, Mary and Joseph than I did on that Christmas Eve!
— Norm Bross, Kirkland, Washington
 

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Sharing the Nativity

Christmas night, 1962, was the night my firstborn son, Christopher, was born! Since he was due on New Years Eve, we were totally caught off guard when he arrived a few days early.

The first sign of my “discomfort” happened just as my mother was bringing the Christmas turkey to the dining room table and placing it in front of my dad for the ritual carving. Despite my protests of really being hungry and wanting to stay home just a little while longer, we immediately left the table and headed for the hospital — all except for my dad, who was last seen still sitting at the table eyeing that beautiful turkey and smiling!

Nativity set
Adobe Stock

And my birthing adventures didn’t stop there. Once at the hospital, we were told it would be a while before the baby arrived, so I should just wait in my room. Well, as you have probably guessed it, those were famous last words! Within a few short hours, my son made his entrance into our world — just before midnight. My first question was, “Is it still Christmas?”

I have always felt that it was indeed an honor to share such a day with Our Lord and the Blessed Virgin Mary. We weren’t in a stable, there were definitely no visitors arriving on camels bearing gifts, and no sheep were allowed in the hospital. But we were both young women welcoming our sons into the world with open arms and full hearts and thanking God for being so blessed.
— Lynda L. Greene, Montgomery, Texas
 

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Helping others in the season of giving
As a child, my family engaged in traditional Christmas customs such as buying gifts, opening the gifts, decorating the home with Christmas cheer, attending Mass, having special dinners and being present with each other. As special and memorable as these all were, the most remarkable thing I remember about Christmas past is partaking in our church’s Christmas Eve dinner for the less fortunate who did not either have the means to have a meal or who were needing assistance. Each year for as long as I can remember as a child, my family and I served in various capacities to assist those in need. I remember for many years serving the plates of food to those in attendance, including single men, women, families with small children, the elderly and those who were disabled. My heart grew in abundance for knowing I made a small impact on those individuals and making a connection with them, whether it was through a conversation, a smile or a welcoming greeting. They were not judged, excluded or looked at differently. All were welcome, and their needs were met. I had so much in my life, and to be humbled in this experience truly made a difference in my life. I was the one who learned the true meaning of Christmas. By being able to look past one’s own individual needs, I realized that this is what Jesus is calling us all to do.
— Jennifer Schroeder, Bismarck, North Dakota
 

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Learning the true gift of Christmas

Christmas of 1960 was going to be the most unforgettable Christmas, no matter what happened, because we lost our father to lung cancer in August of that year. Dad had always made sure we knew our faith and practiced it with Mass, special devotions at church and prayers to Mary every night before bed. It gave us that strong feeling of belonging to church as a family of God.

My brother was 8 years old. I had just turned 14 in November, and we had become very close during Dad’s time of illness. We believed with all our hearts that God would not let us down. Even after Dad was gone, we still felt his presence with us.

That first Christmas after Dad’s death, we were constantly surrounded by family. That was the first year we had turkey for Christmas dinner. We had our own chickens and always had that for dinner, but with more people, a big turkey seemed more practical. We had a smaller tree, bought by our mom on Dec. 8 from the grocery store, because we were out of school that day for the feast of Immaculate Conception, and that became our new tradition.

That was the year I grew in faith. I realized that I could not place my joy on material things, and that God’s grace and presence in my life and my family’s presence were what was really important. This year my little brother and I seemed to find more joy, knowing Dad was not hurting anymore and that he was with God. For us, we felt our Dad’s love and presence with us in so many ways. We felt God’s love and presence with us in far greater ways. That child-like joy is with me yet today.
— Theresa Gach, via email
 

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Christmas poems

On a winter’s eve
Tell me, tell me, tell me if you will
Tell me why tonight all the earth is still
Long, long, long ago, I have heard it said
Starlight, starlight, to a baby led
Baby, baby in a cattle shed
‘Come to tell the world, tell it Death is dead
Snow, snow everywhere, falling everywhere
Glitters, glitters, glitters in your hair
Strangers, strangers, footprints in the snow
Danger, danger, take the babe and go
Howling, howling, wolves upon the hill
Searching, searching, for a winter’s kill
Fire, fire, welcoming the warm
Keep us, keep us, from the winter’s harm
Noel, Noel, sing the song of old
Sing well, sing well, sing against the cold
Bring the empty chair, bring and draw it near
Pray, pray, pray for one who will not be here
Peace, peace, come to us, come and never leave
I will think of you, on a winter’s eve
— William Button, Dallas, Texas
 

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Morning of wonder
As I approach the beautiful tree,
Adobe StockI bend down upon my knee.
In my hand another gift to place
With a silent smile upon my face.
Suddenly, I hear the tippy, tippy toe,
Of a little girl hoping to catch the man who says “Ho! Ho! Ho!”
As she laughs with glee,
I spin around and set her upon my knee.
All too soon fleeting will go the years,
Filled with many joys and tears.
Then I remember the Child, Jesus, who started it all.
Born to us this day in a manger stall.
— Hattie Lance, Saint Louis
 

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Another day
Another day in Bethlehem town
The day’s work finished,
The doors locked down.
All were getting ready to rest.
No one was expecting
A late night guest.
Out in the night
Under a sky lit by stars
A woman and her spouse
Had traveled far.
She, with child,
Was in need of rest,
But, no one was expecting
A late night guest.
“No room,” they said
Time and time again.
There simply was
No room in the inn.
They entered a place
Where the cattle stayed,
And, in a straw-filled manager
A bed was made.
For an infant, so very small,
Who became the greatest
One of all.
On another day
In Bethlehem.
— Margaret M. Kenehan, Glendale, Wisconsin
 

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

On the journey
Her silent fears now voiced aloud
Where is there room among this growing crowd?
Come from afar to obey a decree
Where will there be room, a room for Thee?
“Trust God, young Mother,” 
whispers the Breeze,
“Alone, He alone will bring
Comfort and ease.”
I don’t understand, the way is dark,
The doors are closed, no sheltering ark.
“Daughter of Zion, trust in Me,
in Me, in Me,”
whispers the Breeze.
Rest at last, in this lowly place?
For the Son of David, the King of Kings?
Thy will, Father, not mine be done.
The handmaid of the Lord
Brings forth Thy Son.
“Trust in God, young mother,”
whispers the Breeze
“angels guard and watch over thee.”
Here come the poor, the lowly ones
the Anawim to greet God’s Son.
“Rejoice, oh, Daughter of Zion,
The glory of God in the skies above
Exalting angels announce God’s love.
Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice in Me,
The Light of the World for all to see.”
— Dorothy Buto, Fountain Valley, California
 

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Christmas light
What’s behind the mask that we wear?
Is there a smile or a look of despair?
The mask conceals our physical features,
Which are unique for all God’s creatures,
Mouth, lips, teeth, tongue, and cheek,
It is so hard to hear when others speak,
How do we maintain a relationship?
Without first gazing on God’s workmanship?
Now as we approach this season of Christmas,
Now more than ever we can’t keep our distance,
For these terrible sicknesses need to end,
For those who are different are potential friends,
For those who are violent can share peace,
For those who are wealthy charity can increase,
Yes physical barriers keep us disconnected,
But our fraternal ties can still be respected,
Green boughs in a circle of eternal life,
Candles illuminating hope and not strife,
Waiting for baby to be laid in the creche,
Awesome God in such miniscule human flesh,
Waiting to decorate the pine scented tree,
To sing a jubilant Christmas melody,
Hearts longing for Jesus, we can welcome Him,
And see His light obliterate the world’s dim.
— Sister Susan Catherine Wade, Naperville, Illinois
 

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

High school submissions

The following entries were submitted by freshmen students at Trinity High School in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. The memories and poems were assigned by their English teacher, Trish Bolster, as a fun class project.

A Mass to remember

Each year on Christmas Eve, my parents and I have a tradition: go to Mass, visit friends, then spend time with family. About two or three years ago, we went to the cathedral for Mass. The seating is typically filled, and it’s difficult to find a seat if you aren’t early. My family came into Mass a tad late that year, and we were struggling to find a seat. This was apparent to one of the ushers, who came to us and asked if we were looking for a place to sit. We said we were, and he said, “Follow me.”

He led us around the sides of the cathedral and walked back toward the altar. Toward the back of the altar, there was a seating arrangement made of brown wood, as if a choir were to be sitting there. To our surprise, the usher told us to pick a seat. For Christmas Eve Mass, we sat behind the altar in a cathedral, with it’s high ceilings, beautiful architecture and stained glass windows. Experiencing Mass from that viewpoint was incredible.

While the whole Mass was an experience to remember, my favorite part was the consecration. When the priest held up the body and blood of Christ, the light hit them perfectly, and it shined brightly. I always felt that Jesus was with us during that part of the Mass, but that night, it felt like he was standing right in front of us. Ever since that night, we’ve sat on the Cathedral altar.
— Abigail McMullin
 

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Nativity snow globes

Every year, my mom goes down into the storage in our basement and grabs the Christmas decorations. One decoration that comes out of the basement every year is the snow globes. My mom takes more than 15 snow globes and puts them in our dining room. These aren’t just any winter trinkets, however; each and every one has a differently depicted scene of Jesus’ birth.

Nativity snow globe
Adobe Stock

When I was in preschool, my mom had me go upstairs and take my nap after I got home. When she woke me up from my nap, she had the biggest smile on her face and told me she wanted to show me something. She brought me downstairs and led me to the dining room. There were twinkle lights on the table, and with the room dark, it looked magical. The snowglobes were in a line in the center of the table. It looked so pretty. I took the smallest snow globe, the only one I could pick up, and shook it so that the snow would start falling. I loved doing that.

That year, my mom had gotten another snow globe. This one had a knob on the bottom that if you wound it up, the three kings would go around the manger in a circle while a song played. I remember that day so vividly, and seeing the snow globes every year always makes me happy. I know that without Jesus, the snow globes would probably not even be there, so I am thankful for that memory and Jesus. I’m glad that every year not only do I get to look forward to open presents, but also see Jesus at Mass.
— Mary Elizabeth O’Brien
 

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

The real meaning of Christmas
When I was younger, I was always so excited for Christmas: seeing the tree, the lights, the decorations and eating the Christmas cookies. When I was about 9 years old, I finally realized the true meaning of Christmas. When I was younger, I always thought Christmas was all about getting the presents I wanted. I knew Christmas was about celebrating the birth of Jesus, but I was more focused on getting the Barbie Dream House I wanted. At the church my family goes to, they have a beautiful Nativity scene that I love. When I was younger, I loved looking at it and seeing baby Jesus. He looked so peaceful, and everything about the Nativity scene was amazing. When I was around 9, I started to realize the world isn’t as happy as I thought it was. Not everyone would get presents or get to spend time with their family. I realized I can’t just focus on the presents, but I need to realize this was a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus and spend time with my family and also help those in need. I’ve become more grateful each year for everything I have. During the holidays, my family donates money to those in need, and at our church they have a toy drive where we donate toys and other things. I’ve now realized how grateful I am for everything and try my best to stay faithful.
— Jamie Dolheimer
 

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Nativity
As the winter sky darkens
And the earth falls into slumber
Delicate snowflakes fall lightly
Too many to be numbered
One snowflake quickly descends
It twirls, falls, and spins
Soon coming to a rest
On baby Jesus’ chin
Baby Jesus coos
That is, if He could
But He is just a sculpture
Made of cedar wood
Another snowflake hovers above Mary
And slowly it descends
Lightly touching her finger
Then melting, coming to an end
Joseph silently watches
Over his wife and child
A thin layer of snow covers his face
Hiding the way he smiles
The other snowflakes fall
One by one, as numerous as the stars
They form a delicate blanket
Over Jesus, who came to bear our scars
— Joy Yang
 

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Waiting for Christmas
An indescribable feeling, that of Christmastime
The snow falls gently, cascading down the trees
From every corner of town you can hear the bells chime
The temperature grows cold as the ground begins to freeze
My heart leaps at the sound of the radio
The soft hum of Christmas music beginning to play
Words dance through the air, ‘Merry Christmas’ and ‘Ho Ho’
Chestnuts and reindeer and a one horse open sleigh
Oh Christmas, you can’t come soon enough
I anxiously wait for you to arrive
Oh Christmas, you can’t be close enough
I anxiously wait for twenty-five
Shops shine with strings of bows and lights
Along the sidewalks, carolers sing
Anticipation leads to many sleepless nights
But a sense of contentment the cool breeze will bring
The twenty-first brings thoughts of what will be under the tree
The twenty-second improves my patience a degree
On the twenty-third more signs of Christmas I’m beginning to see
By the twenty-fourth I’m overcome with excitement and glee
Oh Christmas, you can’t come soon enough
I anxiously wait for you to arrive
Oh Christmas, you can’t be close enough
I anxiously wait for twenty-five
On the eve of the big day, I lay down in my bed
Thoughts of the next morning rush into my head
The laughter, the joy, the presents galore
How was I able to sleep before?
As thoughts of Christmastime flood my mind,
I think of snow cascading down the trees
Of the places in town you can hear bells chime
The temperature grows cold as my mind begins to freeze
I look up and find the curtains had not been drawn
I relax and find comfort in the gentleness of the breeze
Sleep overtakes me as I wait for the dawn
Knowing what awaits me puts my mind at ease
— Olivia Varner

 

Our Sunday Visitor Staff

A trusted publication for more than a century, Our Sunday Visitor is an indispensable source of information and formation for Catholics who love their faith.