- DEAR MR SANTA... -

Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground.

I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes:

I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or
flap in the breeze; but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.

 
I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.

If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.

I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely.

It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold.

Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always,

MARIS

P.S.  One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.

 

- FACTS ABOUT CHRISTMAS -

 

Below are some of the answers to the Questions that people have always asked about some of our Christmas traditions.

Why is Christmas abbreviated "Xmas"?

Because the Greek letter "x" is the first letter of the Greek word for Christ, Xristos. "Xmas" therefore means "Christ's Mass." The abbreviation has been around since at least the sixteenth century and is not, as some people have claimed, an attempt to take the "Christ" out of "Christmas" and make it a secular holiday. Why is it a custom to kiss under the mistletoe?

The custom of kissing under the mistletoe may be related to a Scandinavian goddess. Frigga, the goddess of love in Norse mythology, is strongly associated with mistletoe, which has been used as a decoration in homes for thousands of years. Mistletoe is associated with many pagan rituals. In fact, the Christian church disliked the
plant so much, thanks to its pagan associations, that it forbade its use in any form. Some English churches continued this ban as late as the 20th century! According to Charles Panati's excellent book,
 Extraordinary Origins of Ordinary Things, holly becamE A Christian substitute for mistletoe, which is why we "deck the halls" with it. The sharply pointed leaves in holly were supposed to symbolize the thorns in Christ's crown and the red berries were to symbolize his blood.

 
Why do we decorate trees for Xmas?

The evergreen tree, because it is perpetually green, has been used as a symbol of eternal life since the ancient Egyptians and Hebrews. The Scandinavians believed that the evergreen could even scare away the devil. Decorating an evergreen tree in honor of Xmas became popular in the Middle Ages, especially in Germany. The decorations then
consisted of candles and wafers, to symbolize Christ and the Host. Martin Luther is actually said to be the first person to put candles on a tree. (The decorated wooden Xmas pyramid was also popular then!) The tree became popular in Europe and America in the 18th century and the
Victorians started decorating them with candies and cakes hung with ribbon. Woolworth (a department store) began selling manufactured Xmas
ornaments in 1880 and the custom became big very fast. The first electronically lighted Xmas tree appeared in 1882.

Why do we use Candy Canes?

"The Story Of the Candy Cane"
Of all the beautiful traditions of Christmas, few are so
ancient in meaning and so rich in symbolism as the Candy Cane. From the beginning of the tradition of the Christmas Tree, it was customary to decorate the tree with symbols of the newborn Christ. Candles represented the Light of the World, the Star recalled  that first Christmas night, and the shepherd's crook symbolized the humble shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem who were first to receive the news, "Unto You is Born a Savior."
Christmas tree decorations in Europe, from which our tradition comes, were  customarily made of food, principally cookies and candy. This symbolically expresses thanks for "Our Daily Bread" as well as providing
a Christmas treat for the children. Thus, the shepherds crook becomes a candy cane. As time went on, many ornaments took a more permanent nature but the Candy Cane retains the original use and meaning of Christmas Tree ornaments. Candy Canes  on the Christmas tree symbolize the Shepherds in the fields on that
first Christmas night, shepherds who heard the angel chorus and came to worship at the crib of the newborn King. They are also sign of our  thanks to God for the food he has given us all during the year, and not
least of all, they are an inexpensive and delightful Christmas treat for the family.

- MY CHRISTMAS WISH -

MY CHRISTMAS WISH

 

If I could have a Christmas wish come true,

I would wish for the wonderful things to come to you

I wish you happiness in everything you do

May worries and problems not come to you.

I wish you hope that can brighten the cloudiest day,
And strength to accept all that life sends your way.
May you rise each day with sunlight in your heart,
And may your hopes and dreams find a new start.

With my warmest thoughts, and memories of you,
I wish that all your joys, and wishes will come true.
When these special wishes are delivered to your door,
There's no doubt they will be, accompanied by many more.

Of all the Christmas wishes delivered to you yearly,
There couldn't be another
that's wished more warmly or sincerely..