Christmas Spirit

It started slowly.  Well, in fact it felt as if there was no Christmas Mojo at all.  I realised I was at a point where my childhood Christmas had gone, and I wasn't able to recreate it.  Bit of what I consider absolutely necessary for a "good Christmas" were missing.  Its not the same now.  And I need to reconfigure what it means, and, how to create it from here on in.

I'd have thought that having a 7 year old in the house, that it would be a done deal that Christmas was exciting.  Truth is, that my husband is the most excited about Christmas.  My son seems weirdly ambivalent.  I think its in some form of contrariness set against his dad's over enthusiasm.   But the other day when the suggestion of getting a tree was met with a decidedly unenthusiastic sigh, "do we have to? I don't want one...." that I felt my own spirits droop somewhat. 

WHat is going on?  I did a whole art journaling session on this Christmas thing.  And I know its something I need to create.  What IS Christmas? What does it mean? How do we express it in our family, now.  And how do I express it? Given the uphill struggle ness I feel I am meeting. 

I know the Christmas spirit is about generosity.  Of feasting and warmth and good cheer.  And I have to make this happen.  Or find it.

So in the end, we didn't go and buy a tree.  We got "Shabby Davy Dexter" in from the garden.  Shabby is a pot grown tree we got the year before last.  We got a pot grown tree so that we could pop it out in the garden and bring it in the following year.  When we bought it, it was already a bit on the Shabby side.  Yup, we name our trees... We have had a few, and mostly we used to plant them in my parents garden.  WE have had, Susan, Kris Kringle, I think there was a Nigel.... I know.  Its an odd thing.  I blame my husband.  I'd have bought a normal tree and it would have been composted, but Hub felt that it was wrong to chop down trees.....

Anyway, I am totally digressing.  Shabby Davy Dexter was put in the garden but to all extents and purposes he seemed to have died.  And then suddenly he sprang back to life.  Green shoots grew forth from the brown twiggy tree.  Needless to say he looks even more mishapen and shabby than he did when we bought him.  He is very lopsided and there is a lot of brown stick to him. 

But we brought him in and gave him the tinsel and light treatment.  And just like dead Shabby, with this, my Christmas has begun to grow green shoots. 

I am working on the list of things that  - to me - make for "Christmas"  And my mojo is building.   my list, as well as generosity of spirit, warmth, and decorations..... includes; drinking with friends, pantomines and home made Christmas cards . Twinkling lights, home made mince pies, decking the halls with holly and ivy, mulled wine, feasting and  - probably more drinking with friends, family and more good cheer.... hurrah.