Christmas Tree

[poliphilo]

I think I'll get the Christmas tree out of its box.

It doesn't seem long since I last put it away. Hell- they don't make years as long as they used to.

It looks like it's going to be twilight all day long and I feel the need for sparkly things.

In the film I watched yesterday these Polish people were going to Midnight Mass. How comforting to be a Catholic in a Catholic country! To feel the sparkle as something not merely applied but as a deep, deep thing that wraps you round.

I've been asking myself what- if anything- I'm celebrating this year. And the answer is I don't really know and I don't think it matters. Christmas is older than any religion.

The world is full of snow and wolves but we have fire.

Throw on another log. Watch the sparks fly.

Comments

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

Beautifully said, and I latched right onto

How comforting to be a Catholic in a Catholic country! To feel the sparkle as something not merely applied but as a deep, deep thing that wraps you round.

(I have lost connection twice in the last few minutes...my life is sputtering out. My last words...cough:)

What an interesting idea, that we attempt by adding glitter to our houses and bringing trees inside to alter the dull unmagical world.

It's like ritual--incense and candles and robes to hide our high heels and suits--

As you said in your novel, we set up the atmosphere and hopefully the magic will arrive.

--And I am interested in the fact that the anticipation of the moment is where the real joy is. The day itself is so often woefully disappointing.

People have fights over Christmas dinner. The kids cry, and they break their toys. The dishes get washed.

Lots of people here in the United States toss their trees out by the curb by Christmas afternoon.

The magic's over. Time to buckle down.

But we tried. We all tried. We just didn't know what to do.

I like so much what you said:

but as a deep, deep thing that wraps you round

It's there, always. I can just probe a little and find it.

It feels like being in love.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

We put the tree up and dressed it and I felt- ever so faintly, distantly- the old magic.

Yes, you've hit it exactly- it's like being in love.

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

And could we have a picture of your tree, please?

That would be fun!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yes, why not?

I'll need Ailz's help, though.

She understands how to upload (or is it download?) pictures and I don't.

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

Oh, good! Thanks to Ailz!