The Spirit of Christmas
Nobody can deny that Christmas is a special time of year. There are various appealing sights, sounds and smells associated with this time of year, but the spirit of Christmas signifies different things to different people.
Christmas day is recognised as Christ’s birthday, and thus it is a very important day of the year for Christians. In turn, Christ’s birth brings to mind Christmas Carols, Nativity Scenes and midnight mass, and all these are very special to Christians and evoke feelings of peace and harmony.
Christmas is also a special time for the non-religious. The spirit of Christmas is associated with glistening snow, robin redbreasts, snowmen, jolly Santas, fairy lights, outdoor decorations, candles, crackers, roaring log fires; the list is endless. The smell of cinnamon is also found to remind many people of Christmas: in fact, it has been claimed that candles, carols and the smell of cinnamon are the things that primarily evoke the Christmas feeling. What exactly does cinnamon have to do with Xmas? Well, it has long been used in Europe to flavour Christmas cakes and mince pies, thus it’s distinctive aroma is instantly recognisable.
Talking of food, there are many types of delicious mouth-watering food associated with the spirit of Christmas. Turkey, goose, mince pies, rich Christmas pudding and cakes, cranberry and bread sauce, brussels sprouts, gingerbread, brandy butter, chestnuts – its enough to make you feel hungry!
In addition to the tantalising range of foods above, there are some drinks traditionally served at Christmas – two that spring to mind are mulled wine and egg nog. Mulled wine is basically red wine heated up with sugar and spices, of which cinnamon is one (nutmeg is also added). Egg nog is a mixture of milk, eggs, sugar, brandy and vanilla, and may be served hot or cold. Both these drinks are sure to warm your insides on a cold winter’s night!
Everybody would agree that Christmas would not be Christmas without a Christmas tree. The Christmas tree has been associated with Christmas since the 16th century, and an angel or star is often placed on top to signify the Star of Bethlehem or the angels from the Nativity. The evergreen pine tree especially evokes the Christmas spirit, with its distinctive pine smell. Today, there are trees to suit every household, even contemporary black trees for the modern home.
The true spirit of Christmas is created by a little bit of all the above. A roaring log fire, a choir singing carols in the market square, twinkling lights in windows and lovely food and drink all help to make Xmas a really special time. However, the loveliest part of Christmas is spending quality time with family and friends, exchanging thoughtfully chosen gifts – after all, being surrounded by those we love at such a special time is what Christmas is all about – and don’t forget the mistletoe!
