Christmas - a Feast For the Senses

Sight

• Christmas colors of red and green; white, silver and gold; pink, purple and white; blue and white
• Evergreens dusted with snow
• Twinkling, colorful lights on houses everywhere
• Banners with “generic” holiday messages that give you a giggle because you know what they really want to say but won’t come out and say it
• Pageantry at church

Sound

• Carols on the radio, TV (XM Satellite Radio channels)
• Giggling children who can’t contain their giddiness
• People laughing when they get together
• Stories told of Christmases past
• God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, O Come O Come Emmanuel, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, These Christmas Shoes (warning: need tissues), O Come All Ye Faithful, The Christmas Song, Carol of the Bells, O Holy Night, Mary Did You Know, Away In a Manger, Do You Hear What I Hear
• Chiming bells
• Carolers strolling

Smell and Taste
Somehow, these mostly go hand-in-hand at Christmastime

• Spruce, eucalyptus, juniper and cypress sprigs
• Gingerbread
• Fruitcake (please send me those you won’t eat)
• Stollen
• Pfefferneusse
• Peppermint
• Chocolate
• Sticky pudding
• Lechon (fire-roasted, basted whole pork) and Mang Tomas sauce
• Bibinka (rice cakes)
• Ginataan (sweet rice dumpling, tapioca, coconut milk and fruit stew)
• Apple cider
• Cloves, star anise, cinnamon, nutmeg

Touch

• Gift wrap
• Warm sweaters
• Christmas blankets on the couch
• Sprigs of evergreen
• Christmas tree balls
• Woolen stockings
• Tissue paper, ribbons, tape
• Hugs

But Beyond All That…

Christmas is all about a King who was humbly born in a feeding trough. He was born to a couple who, instead of receiving acclaim were facing social scorn. Instead of signing decrees, His hands knew the hard and common work of carpentry. While He was the source of all wisdom, He chose instead to be obedient to the elders above Him in the social pecking order. He was homeless and penniless during His ministry. And He did give all of His life up for all the world even if it disdained Him. He gave His life for us because He loves us dearly.

From our family to yours, a very blessed Christmas and best wishes to you in the new year.