Chicken Soup for the Soul Christmas by Jack Canfield

Author:Jack Canfield [Canfield, Jack; Hansen, Mark Victor]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4532-7481-1
Publisher: Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing

5

CHRISTMAS

TRADITIONS

Heap on the wood!

The wind is chill;

But let it whistle as it will.

We’ll keep our Christmas merry still.

Sir Walter Scott

Holiday Tale

Even as an adult, I find it difficult to sleep on Christmas Eve.Yuletide excitement is a potent caffeine, no matter your age.

Carrie Latet

Like many other people, this time of year is my favorite. People really get into the true reason for the holidays: miracles, good cheer, helping your fellow man. However, others, like me as a seven-year-old boy, only thought of one thing: presents!

Every year the holidays would come, and while my friends had millions of gifts under their trees (and in their living room for my Jewish friends), I would only get one gift. My parents would always say that we could not afford anything else. Besides, that was not the true meaning for the holidays! (As a child, I got sick and tired of that excuse.)

One year when I was eleven, I was more happy and excited than usual during the holidays. Was it because there was world peace? No. Was it because there was less hunger in Africa? No. Or even perhaps there was a cure for a terrible disease? Not even that. It was because I saw two gifts for me! What in the world could they be? Sure, I had been extra good during the year, but what in the world did I do to deserve two gifts? I really did not care. I was just so excited not to have only one gift that year.

My parents, as well as my other siblings, had gathered together. After we’d said some prayers and sung some songs, we were going to open the gifts. Anticipation was getting to me. My heart was racing. Finally, I was allowed to rip through the first wrapped package. My joy quickly turned to depression when I realized what the first gift contained: a left sock! (I’m sure you can guess what my second present would be: the right sock.)

Years later, as I’ve matured, I’m not so sure if that story is true or if I’ve just told it so many times that I think it’s true. It really doesn’t matter. I’ve learned that what does matter is the holiday spirit: helping others, being appreciative, and showing kindness and love. But before I take too much time in writing about the holidays, I better make sure I get down to the department store to buy my daughter a holiday present: a pair of socks. One can never forget a great ritual!

Michael Segal

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