Counting down to Christmas...
Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat.
Please put a penny in the old man's hat.
If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do.
If you haven't got a ha'penny, then God Bless You.
As a child, I loved this song. I used to sing it over and over again, attempting to imitate the round that it should be done in. I think that the thought of a fat goose was funny, especially since geese were not common to the area that I grew up in. And what exactly was a ha'penny? When I found it that it was 1/2 of a cent, I was amazed that they even MADE such a small amount of money!
Now, Christmas barely registers on the radar. I haven't shopped for anyone. In fact, I refuse to set foot NEAR the mall. My parents are getting handmade gifts, and my brother and his wife aren't getting anything. I refuse to listen to the "all Christmas music all the time stations", and the commercialism of the holiday disappoints me in so many ways. The only concession I made this year, and that I make every year, are to send cards to my friends and to spend Christmas day with my parents.
The magic of Christmas that I remember is different now. Of course, as you grow older and realize that Santa stops coming, and the gifts under the tree begin to be practical instead of fun, that special magic fades. I don't know when exactly I stopped believing in Santa Claus. I think one day I just woke up and realized it was over. Maybe it was the year that my letter to Santa was based entirely on Mary Lou Retton gymnastic gear, and I didn't get a single one of the items on the list. Wow, I just realized that! My parents must have done a good enough job on picking out things, though, because I don't recall being disappointed. Usually, I got things from "Santa" that I didn't even know I wanted myself!
Perhaps if my life was different--if I had children of my own, or (God forbid), my brother had a child, I could embrace the season and be swept up in making it perfect for everyone. As it is, I only have one friend with young children, and I don't know them well enough to be involved in their lives. Maybe some day I'll attempt to recapture the joy I used to feel as a child, but for now, I'll continue being practical.
Please put a penny in the old man's hat.
If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do.
If you haven't got a ha'penny, then God Bless You.
As a child, I loved this song. I used to sing it over and over again, attempting to imitate the round that it should be done in. I think that the thought of a fat goose was funny, especially since geese were not common to the area that I grew up in. And what exactly was a ha'penny? When I found it that it was 1/2 of a cent, I was amazed that they even MADE such a small amount of money!
Now, Christmas barely registers on the radar. I haven't shopped for anyone. In fact, I refuse to set foot NEAR the mall. My parents are getting handmade gifts, and my brother and his wife aren't getting anything. I refuse to listen to the "all Christmas music all the time stations", and the commercialism of the holiday disappoints me in so many ways. The only concession I made this year, and that I make every year, are to send cards to my friends and to spend Christmas day with my parents.
The magic of Christmas that I remember is different now. Of course, as you grow older and realize that Santa stops coming, and the gifts under the tree begin to be practical instead of fun, that special magic fades. I don't know when exactly I stopped believing in Santa Claus. I think one day I just woke up and realized it was over. Maybe it was the year that my letter to Santa was based entirely on Mary Lou Retton gymnastic gear, and I didn't get a single one of the items on the list. Wow, I just realized that! My parents must have done a good enough job on picking out things, though, because I don't recall being disappointed. Usually, I got things from "Santa" that I didn't even know I wanted myself!
Perhaps if my life was different--if I had children of my own, or (God forbid), my brother had a child, I could embrace the season and be swept up in making it perfect for everyone. As it is, I only have one friend with young children, and I don't know them well enough to be involved in their lives. Maybe some day I'll attempt to recapture the joy I used to feel as a child, but for now, I'll continue being practical.
posted by ~ruthie @ 2:25 PM
2 Comments:
At 10:08 AM,
Anonymous said…
You know I used to sing that song too. I don't know why I did but I did. I think that you hit the nail square on the head with that post. Christmas used to be a special time of year full of warm fuzzies and now its all about rushing around and being good little consumers. I am soooo sick and tired of all of it. I don't think you or I are the only ones that are sick of it. I think that the "holidays" should be devoid of gifts and more like thanksgiving where we enjoy food and family. Thank you corporate america for screwing us out of our warm fuzzies!
At 5:01 PM,
Tee/Tracy said…
The magic comes back through children - whether they be your own, or in my older sister's case, her nephews.
Love ya, Ruthie! I enjoyed this post.
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