Monday, December 22, 2008

Happy Birthday


Christmas is almost here!

Although December 25th is an arbitrary choice of dates - who really knows when Jesus was born? - we should remember that Christmas is the day we celebrate as His birthday. That's what it's all about - the partying, the gift giving, the whole thing. We do tend to forget this in today's world.


When our kids were growing up we always had a birthday cake and ice cream on Christmas, just as we always had at any birthday party. I have a set of small tier cake pans, and a pedestal to put the tiers on. Nothing huge - a very small cake. I usually iced it in white with sprinkles, and topped it with one birthday candle. When they were little, we sang Happy Birthday before we cut the cake.

For some reason, I do not seem to have taken any pictures of that cake, so I can't show it to you, but I'm sure that isn't necessary.


Before the big day we also had an Advent Wreath. And I made a set of ornaments for the tree, some of pellon, some of heavy paper. A star (because he was Jewish - a lot of people tend to forget that too), the sun, the crown and scepter, the lamb, and various things to represent Biblical events such as the apple minus a bite, Jonah in the whale, Jacob's ladder, manna, the Arc of the Covenant, the burning bush, Noah's ark, the three wise men, the town of Bethlehem, several others. I believe if a tree is decorated in this way it's called a Jesse Tree. They were always the first ornaments we put on our tree.

Over the years some have become very badly discolored and marked up.


We should not
forget the Old Testament. We should not forget that the Holy Family was Jewish. We should not forget His roots. We should not forget that it was not the Jewish people, but the Romans who persecuted Him. Somehow, over time, some people's thinking has become twisted on this point. The Holy Family were good Jews, always practicing their Faith. What we know as The Last Supper was actually a Seder. Their devotion is a good thing for us to remember at this time.




Sorry. I don't mean to preach. The season brings it out in me I guess, and I think I'm instructing my children again.


14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your post made me think of something in a new way - what was the birthday traditions of Jewish people back in those early days? Would they be the same as today? Obviously we're told the three magi brought gifts initially, but what about all the other years? Hmmm.

Dianne said...

well you sure instructed your children well :)

another lovely holiday post Bobbie

Daryl said...

Instruct away ... what charming and loving ways to celebrate a special birthday and learn (or re-learn) about acceptance/tolerance and love

:-Daryl

Helen said...

Great entry. Helen

Sylvia K said...

You did indeed instruct your children well and I loved reading how you celebrated. And it gave rise to thoughts about traditions and celebrations. Somehow it seems we tend to focus more on the differences today than we do the fact we are all humans with different ways of celebrating -- nothing wrong with any of them -- they're just different.

kenju said...

Preach anytime you want, Bobbie. I agree. Merry Christmas!

Mamapippa ... said...

I want to wish you a very lovely christmas !

And then I have a question for you. I want to order my blog-visitors by country. Am I right to think you live in the USA ? I don't want to make mistakes ...
Sorry for my curiosity ...

Greetings from Belgium !

bobbie said...

Yes, Mamapippa, I live on the eastern coast of the United States.
I know little of Belgium except that my brother was there during World War II, and had nothing but praise for the people there. He told us that even during the war, it was the cleanest place he had ever seen, and he enjoyed what contact he had with the citizens, particularly the children who used to play near where they were located.

Mamapippa ... said...

Thanks for answering !
Big hugs !

Unknown said...

It's a great post Bobbie. Here's wishing you and your family and Merry and Blessed Christmas. Much love, M

Judy said...

Thanks for sharing with us Bobbie. I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas.

KG said...

I love the cake idea! I just love it. Especially since I for one went WAAAAY out-of-control with my Christmas gifting this year.

Lisa said...

I love you Bobbie.

Kay said...

Good for you, Bobbie! I hope everybody reads this piece because it's so important and beautifully stated.