Where Did Christmas Go?

This year especially, I have noticed that a lot of people are so quick to "get over" Christmas. Decorations are already down, presents are put away, people start saying "Happy New Year" instead of "Merry Christmas" (or the dreaded "Happy Holidays"). Why does Christmas have to be over so soon? Is that the child in me, or is it something more?

I traditionally like to leave our Christmas decorations up until Epiphany, or as we called it growing up "Russian Christmas." (I'm going for a record number of quotations, "give me a break!") Epiphany is January 6th, so I'm not ready for Christmas to be over yet! I want to linger, remember, enjoy.

But not only linger over the presents (as my Sister would accuse me of being all about the presents), but linger over the Christ Child, come to be our Savior. I know a lot of people use the weeks of Advent to contemplate this holy mystery, but I want to hang out at the manger, imagine what it was like for Mary, for Joseph, and the others who had the rare gift of being present at the first Christmas. (Which likely was in spring, but that's another post!)

I know that wanting to hang on to Christmas isn't because Christmas has always been warm and fuzzy. Growing up, our favorite Aunt died unexpectedly at Christmas, leaving a husband, toddler and newborn, and the rest of our family, in stunned grief. For Hubby and me, our first daughter was stillborn just before Christmas. So it's not about the warm and fuzzy feelings that Christmas brings.

I want to reflect on the "normalcy" of life. That life goes on, whether you are celebrating the birth of a new baby, or grieving the loss of a loved one. Life goes on. Sometimes too quickly. I will be celebrating Christmas just a little bit longer. I'm not ready for Christmas to be over.