I've discovered that Christmas is both given and received.





As little kids, we wait for jolly ol' Saint Nicholas to fill our tree
with treats.  We enjoy Christmas candy, warble Christmas carols.  We
are fascinated with the story of Baby Jesus: angels, shepherds, 
manger, Magi (what are they?) bearing rich gifts.  We gave nothing
but the smiles on our faces and the music of our voices, and our
elders loved that.

By the time you're 35, Christmas overwhelms you.  You're choosing the
right gift for your first cousin twice removed.  If you're married,
you've shoved your in-laws onto the list.  Unless you're a man.  Then
you've left the gift dilemma to your wife.  If you're really macho,
your secretary picks your wife's gift for you.  Christmas means 
nothing.  Except for the smiles on your kid's faces.

Is this why Jesus came to be born?





Maybe it's time for you to UNPLUG THE CHRISTMAS MACHINE, to SIMPLIFY 
CHRISTMAS, to wage THE BATTLE FOR CHRISTMAS and discover anew some 
CHRISTMAS JOYS.  These are the titles of some great books about why 
we Americans celebrate "the holidays" the way we do, and what you 
might do to have the Christmas that means something to YOU.

And what means something to me?  Well...I invite you to
step into MNL's Christmas!

If I could make a Christmas album:

I'd start with an a capella rendition of "Christmas is Coming",
followed by a gentle guitar accompanying me on "Mary's Boy Child",
with a bamboo xylophone trilling in the background.  I'd include
a couple of "downers" like Simon and Garfunkel's "Hazy Shade of
Winter".  I sang "Gesu Bambino" at my church's Christmas Eve
service in 1999, so I'd include that too.  I'd end with a rousing
orchestral and choral rendition of "Do You Hear What I Hear?".  I
can hear the arrangement in my mind.  Too bad I'm no orchestral
arranger.


CHRISTMAS IN MY EAR:

A few years ago I had a co-worker make for me a tape of winter
and Christmas songs, including rock and pop songs that mention
December.  Among the titles:

I Am A Rock--Simon and Garfunkel
California Dreamin'--The Mamas and the Papas
Try to Remember--Fantastiks original cast
Time Passages--Al Stewart
Hazy Shade of Winter--Simon and Garfunkel
Dreidle--Don McLean?
I Wish--Stevie Wonder
Amen--The Impressions
Happy Xmas/War is Over--John Lennon
December's Boudoir--Laura Nyro
Same Old Lang Syne--Dan Fogelberg

The other songs had more of a New Year's Day or an all-around-
the-calendar slant.  My co-worker Joey rounded off the tape with
Christmas comedy cuts like "Santa Claus and His Old Lady" and
"Green Christmas".

A few years later my family gave me a stereo system for Christmas.
I made my own Christmas tape of soul, gospel, and other Afro-
American Christmas music: "Go Tell It On the Mountain" (recorded
by Simon and Garfunkel!), "This Christmas", "Mary's Boy Child",
"Children, Go Where I Send Thee", "Give Love on Christmas Day",
"Someday at Christmas", "Arabesque Cookie" (Duke Ellington, based
upon the Arab dance from "The Nutcracker"), "Rise Up, Shepherd",
"The Virgin Mary".  The penultimate song is the Hallelujah Chorus
from "A Soulful Messiah".  (And He was a soulful Messiah, wasn't he?)


CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK

Must see, when they do it right: Macy's Santaland!

Must look for:

Snowflake over Fifth Avenue and 57th Street.
Red and green on the Empire State Building.
Blue and white on the Empire State Building.
The giant menorah at Fifth Avenue and 60th Street.
Dress windows, everywhere!

Once I saw:
A loooooooong horse-drawn sleigh riding down the street
with Santa Claus on top!  Sponsored by Love Cosmetics and
Drug Stores.

Can do:
Christmas singing tree at South Street Seaport.
Messiah Sing-Along at Riverside Church or various other places.


CHRISTMAS ON MY BOOKSHELF

The Gift of the Magi
A Christmas Carol
Christmas Gif'--a collection of Afro-Am poems, stories, recipes.
Kid Stuff--poem


CHRISTMAS ON MY TV

It's a Wonderful Life
Miracle on 34th Street
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
The Homecoming (pilot for "The Waltons")
March of the Wooden Soldiers
La Pastorella (PBS)
The Nutcracker (many versions)
Messiah (oratorio)

a nod to:
Jingle All the Way (one of Phil Hartman's best roles)
A Charlie Brown Christmas


GIVING CHRISTMAS AWAY!

Operation Santa (US Post Office)
Angel Tree (Prison Fellowship)

Tip: give your most expensive gifts to the needy.  Usually.
"The poor you will have with you always, and you can help 
them anytime you want.  But you won't always have me."

Give your most cherished or creative gifts to those you love.

FAVORITE GIFT IDEAS

Make gingerbread cookies that resemble your friends!
(I got that idea from Seventeen magazine, circa 1989, I think)
Make music tapes geared to their interests, or that
 feature their name.
Get a collection of books with a character the same name
 as your recipient.
Personalized toothbrushes.
Pencils with special slogans. (Lillian Vernon)
Make homemade ornaments.  I've used felt and cardboard.
Hallmark or American Greetings keepsake ornaments.


CHRISTMAS WARNINGS:

Unplug the Christmas Machine!
No matter how early you start, there's always a rush of
things to do at the end.
Christmas is our way of easing into winter.
Your nieces, nephews, cousins, etc, don't need your most
expensive gifts.  They have parents, siblings, and children
for that.  I remember the "embarrassment of riches" under our
extended family's Christmas tree circa 1990.  And it was
embarrassing!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!
Fact: Jesus was probably not born on December 25.
Fact: Jesus was born.

Sing melodies in your heart to God, and play an instrument
if you can!  Write a poem, draw a picture.  Give to the
beggar on the street.  Give to your church.  Be nice to
salespeople.  Be nice to your family (the toughest thing
of all!)


MERRY BIRTHDAY!

My birthday is December 21.  Oh, well.

Merry Christmas, all!

Christmas Links!