Christmas is still a week away, but at the same time, it’s already here, as evidenced by the Upcoming Events calendar, absolutely filled with Christmas events and nothing but Christmas events.
Even if they might like to do other things, the people who plan events realize schedules are full with Christmas parties, concerts, programs, and family gatherings. There is a lot of Christmas, and it isn’t hard to understand why. Christmas is a time when it’s easier to let your inner child out to bask in all the fun and traditions. Adulthood is tough. Bills, jobs, home maintenance, vehicle maintenance, cooking, cleaning, and the list of responsibilities goes on and on. It can be overwhelming at times.
But there are lots of opportunities for temporary respites from adult drudgery during the Christmas season, from simply seeing houses decorated with lights while driving from point A to point B in the evening to more active participation. This Saturday night offers one of the biggest opportunities to soak up the Christmas season with the Hyde Park Luminaries. The luminaria themselves are almost magical in the twilight and early night, and that’s before considering the live music, carriage rides, and everything else that goes along with the event.
And last weekend, Hutchinson put its spin on a holiday classic with the production of the “Prairie Nutcracker,” another long local tradition.
There is also room for new traditions, and it doesn’t take a whole neighborhood or a dance studio to do it. This week, we learned of one family turning their house into a “Christmas Castle,” and a woodworker turning scrap lumber into classic toy cars for children in need. Almost everywhere you look, somebody has done something to make Christmas special. That deserves to be celebrated.
Those who have young children at home get to see Christmas through a child’s eyes firsthand, and those are special years as a parent watching your son or daughter grow up, even when you wish time would stand still. As children leave home, Christmas becomes a time for family reunions as for many it’s the one time of year when the entire family is under the same roof again, even it’s only for a few hours or days. Those are special times.
In today’s fast-paced world, it’s a real challenge to put digital devices down and just sit still. But Christmas is a time for spending time with friends, family, and those who matter the most to us and reconnecting to one another. It’s hard to do that when we’re constantly attached to a digital device that is competing for our attention. But in our opinion, sitting still and just soaking in the Christmas spirit with others is something we all should do.
So sometime between now and Christmas Day, we challenge you to join us in taking just one hour to grab a cup of hot chocolate or glass of eggnog with a friend or family member, put your favorite Christmas music on, and just sit on your couch by your Christmas tree or on your porch if it’s not too cold outside and gaze at the Christmas lights in your neighborhood. Go to the Hyde Park Luminaries. Think about your favorite Christmas memories. Text or call an old friend or family member you haven’t touched base with in a while. Laugh. Share your memories with your spouse and kids. For those few fleeting moments, forget everything else but the Christmas spirit. You’ll be glad you did. We know that we will.
Merry Christmas to all.
– The Hutchinson Tribune Editorial Board