Charitable Christmas {traditions}

 

Welcome back to Day 10 in WeNdYs WiNtEr WoNdErLaNd!

Today {on a  simple, more loving and heartfelt note}  I bring you the tradition of a Charitable Christmas!

Some say that SANTA is the charity and good will coming out in mankind.  I do notice that during this time of year people tend to put aside differences a little more.  Lend a helping hand a little quicker. Have a little more patience and a bigger smile!  I believe that the softer side of humanity is showing as the countdown to Christmas nears.  Isn't it great?! 

As a tradition I try to do something for others.  Hosting a party is something I enjoy doing and it brings a lot of joy to those in attendance as well.  For many years I have hosted holiday parties in my home for choir groups, music guilds,or womens groups.  All in attendance have felt the spirit of Christmas and it has brought us closer together.  There is something wonderful about that!  It is a fun tradition!  This year was a bit different because I had many other obligations and was not able to "go all out" and host a gathering in my home, but that wouldn't stop me!  So last night I put on a festive Christmas sweater and headed out to share in some holiday spirits with some wonderful women and do some good!

Many hands make the workload lighter and I was happy to be part of a great little team of ladies!  We wanted to share the Christmas spirit with a dinner but all were so busy this year that we each took a little part and kept it very homespun and simple.  I arrived at the cultural hall to find the tables were already set up!  Yay!

 

Now I step in to do a little decorating magic to help set the mood and change the cold empty cultural hall into more of a homey Christmas feel.  Piano was covered and decorated to look like a Christmas mantle.

I set up a little Christmas display on the front of the stage {since we weren't using it} and...

quickly decorated a small tree.

The scene is set.

Then a fabulous woman {part of the team} comes in to save the day!  She is ready to have her baby ANY day and... 

she has made 100's of cookies and has them in cellophane bags!  We help her tie the last of the ribbon to the cellophane bags and...

Place them on the table as part of the centerpiece and also as a parting gift.  Keeping it simple and homespun but special!

Giving of yourself to others is the best gift.  While visiting may of us are talking about doing kind deeds for others.  My daughter has been making simple fleece blankets to give to some of the homeless people she passes downtown every day on her way to work.  We start talking about this to others and find out that right in our neighborhood there is a nursing home for seniors in our area in need of small lap blankets to cover the little old ladies legs while they are in their wheel chairs.  One woman has decided to make blankets.  This sparks something in the other ladies at the table and now my daughter will make some too. 

  We share a fabulous meal {that we had "simply catered" in trade this year} and instead of exchanging presents we exchange stories and music and traditions, by way of a small program.  Simple and sweet musical numbers were shared.  One by a woman and her granddaughter singing, another by a woman who after finally becoming an empty-nester has had time to learn guitar.  Inspirational Christmas stories were shared.  One that I will never forget of simple kindness in the grocery store check out line!  Christmas carols were sung by all in the room and then some of the women shared their family traditions.  One woman shared her traditions from her native land of Brazil.  Another woman shared her tradition of making pajamas for EVERY member of her large extended family EVERY year and has the photos in an album.  Finally the cookie tradition is shared of how one womans great grandmother has passed down her GREAT sugar cookie recipe and the women in that family have made these cookies with the same cookie cutters for generations EVERY year!

And we are all reminded {as we look at this simple childlike manger I had displayed} that it is the simple things of this great Christmas season that are what matter.  We kept it simple but simply did something  for someone else last night and the spirit of that baby laying in the manger {the Christmas spirit} was there.  Go forward and share something simple today.