What Makes Christmas Magical

Christmas is a special time of the year for the joy and intangible magic that fills the season. But where does that magic come from?

Does it come from the glittering decorations shimmering in the shops and the dazzling Christmas lights displays on many houses in the neighbourhood; or is it the Christmas music floating melodiously through the shopping centres; the carolers on the streets and in the malls; or the amazing site of a huge Christmas tree, storeys high, covered in twinkling lights and sparkling tinsel in the town square?

Is it the delight on a child's face when he or she sees a jolly Santa Caus in the shopping malls with lines of children eagerly waiting to sit on his lap and whisper secrets of what they'd like for Christmas, and receiving a candy cane in return?

Perhaps it's the hues of all the seasonal food that abounds this time of year, the multi-coloured candy and jellies, rum balls (and their variations such as apricot balls or raspberry balls), or the sight of delectable fruit mince pies dusted lightly with white icing sugar, that looks like a smattering of snow.

For children, it's often the time parents spend with them that is special, whether it's doing craft together, creating cards or decorations to hang around the house, or whether it's in the kitchen, baking Christmas cookies and puddings and cakes and pies for Christmas Day, and the mouth-watering aromas wafting through their home.

Children of all ages enjoy helping mix cookie dough and using special holiday-shaped cookie cutters to create gingerbread men or Christmas trees, which they love to decorate in many colours, making their own unique contribution to Christmas festivities.

Maybe it's going out as a family on a cool night to the local Christmas concert, singing carols as a community under the starlight, or going to church and hearing the congregation's voices raised high, echoing through the place of worship, singing hymns of joy for this time of year. 
 
And what about when everyone in the family helps to decorate the Christmas tree?  A special Christmas memory can be created when each family member makes a special ornament for the Christmas tree, or contributes one or more keepsake items to decorate the tree. It could then become a ritual each year for those particular items to be placed on the Christmas tree adding to the family's history of Christmases.

Many activities contribute to the magic of Christmas and create happy childhood memories.   But quite probably the most anticipated and magical activity of Christmas is the excitement of wondering what Christmas gift Santa will bring this year.

While many adults also look forward with some anticipation (or trepidation) to see what Christmas gifts they will get, it's really the children who get the most delight from receiving presents at Christmas. The joy on their faces when they see the pile of brightly coloured gifts under the Christmas tree, and the excitement with which they rip off the paper to reveal their present, can often be a gift in itself to their parents and other family members who've given them the gifts.  Many people get almost as much joy out of seeing how their carefully thought about and chosen gifts are received from the recipients, and their surprise and gratitude when they get it right.

All these events, activities, happenings, sights, sounds and scents of Christmas and the holidays create special and unforgettable memories. And who can deny that a pleasant memory is always something that is truly magical.