Our Christmas Lights
Today is the first and I must say a freezing frosty day of December. We traveled past Hampstead Heath and Whitestone Pond, North West London by car this morning. The heath is near to where we live and a wonderful place to stroll in any season. The frost coated the grass and bare tree branches with a silver sheen which was burnished by the early winter sun. The Pond was iced over and years ago was popular for ice skating. Nowadays the health and safety supremos in local public services won’t allow such carefree fun!
December Arrives!
“Hang on!” Winter skating on Whitestone Pond near Hampstead Heath in 1933
It is also the first week in Advent which is the season many Western Christian churches observe as the time for the expectation and anticipation of the Nativity (birth of Jesus Christ). Services are held such as the singing of Advent Carols, and Nativity readings from The Bible.
It is only twenty-four days before Christmas Day and two public holidays. I can’t wait. It is the first time in twenty-six years that we are both away from home. We are going to my old hometown to meet up with family and old friends for Christmas and the New Year. I am sure it would be a lovely and joyous Christmas despite being away from my son, grandson, and daughter-in-law.
December is a favourite month for me. I love the atmosphere, it seems that people are more carefree and happier and kinder.
Christmas office parties are abundantly observed, including workers who have a Christmas drink with colleagues, normally at a bar or pub near work.
Shops open later up 9 – 10 pm and yet shoppers often leave buying gifts at the last minute. Sometimes this could be an advantage as competing retailers try and entice customers with last-minute bargains. But sometimes the most wanted goods are gone and many are disappointed. On Christmas morning any disappointment has gone as plenty of fun and games can be had as well as a mountain of food and drink.
December 25 is not only celebrated as our Lord Jesus Christ birthdate, but also the greatest scientist of them all, Sir Isaac Newton, (according to the Julian calendar he was born on 25 Dec 1642 ).
Holiday on Boxing Day comes on the 26 of December. It has nothing to do with engaging in some pugilistic activities with guests that have overstayed their welcome. Instead, its origin may have been from those ‘upstairs, downstairs’ days when servants were allowed to visit their families with a benevolent box of goodies from their employers!
