“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.”
– Norman Vincent Peale
The magic of Christmas is upon us! Houses decorated with sparkling lights and festive wreaths line the streets and Christmas music is playing on every radio station. Stores are bustling with shoppers in search of the perfect gifts for their loved ones. The rich scent of pine lingers from Christmas trees adorned with colorful ornaments.
Now that my grandkids are older, celebrating Christmas is a little different. When they were little, they could hardly contain their excitement as they anticipated the arrival of Santa Claus. Screeches of joy filled the air as they tore the colorful wrapping off boxes to discover that Santa had indeed received their letters and made their wishes come true. Now, we only have one little guy, Elijah, who still believes in the magic of Santa. But we all enjoy the beautiful season and visits from the kids in the family who are all grown up.
Most families have their favorite traditions that make Christmas extra special. As a blended family, we usually celebrate the holiday on Christmas Eve with a sumptuous seafood spread. Shrimp steamed with Old Bay seasoning and crab legs are always on the menu. Sometimes, we enjoy lobster tails, shrimp scampi, Maryland crab soup or crab cakes. When I was growing up, part of the magic of Christmas was enjoying a Christmas Eve meal of a rich and delicious lobster bisque served with a crusty loaf of French bread. Delish!
Watching Christmas movies as a family makes Christmas magical. I loved it when my own kids and then my grandkids would sit on the floor wrapped in blankets, watching our favorite Christmas classics while drinking hot chocolate and munching on cookies. Who doesn’t love watching “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, “Elf”, “The Santa Clause”, “A Christmas Story” and my own personal favorite, “The Polar Express”?!
There are also many local festivals that bring the magic of Christmas. In my hometown of Fenton, we enjoy going to the annual Jinglefest to see the amazing ice sculptures, a holiday-lighted parade, live music, tree-lighting and fireworks. Another magical holiday event is the Dickens Festival in Holly, where you can step back in time for two weekends in December and experience the magic of Dickens’ world.
What makes your Christmas magical? For me, this is a time filled with warmth and joy. It is a time to celebrate and appreciate the blessings in our lives, to spend time with friends and family, to help those who are less fortunate and to spread love and kindness to those around us. Most of all, the magic of Christmas is celebrating the birth of Jesus – attending a candlelit Christmas Eve service with the family … the true reason and the true magic of Christmas.
