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Deborah Whipp’s nostalgia definitely has that ring of truth, Like snowflakes, my Christmas memories gather and dance — each beautiful, unique and too soon gone.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox knows about nostalgia as well, When Christmas bells are swinging above the fields of snow, we hear sweet voices ringing from lands of long ago, and etched on vacant places are half-forgotten faces of friends we used to cherish, and loves we used to know.
Vanessa Grimaldi said, Santa Claus is believing in something greater, believing in something magical; but Dennis the Menace pointed out that the real question is whether Santa Claus believes in you.
Charles Dickens said, I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time.
Margaret Elizabeth Sangster agrees, At Christmas-tide the open hand Scatters its bounty o’er sea and land, And none are left to grieve alone, For Love is heaven and claims its own.
Erma Bombeck gets at the heart of it, There’s nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child.
Louisa May Alcott hints at the magic, Are they Christmas fairies stealing Rows of little socks to fill? Are they angels floating hither With their message of good-will? What sweet spell are these elves weaving, As like larks they chirp and sing?
Neil deGrasse Tyson is here to make us smile, Santa knows Physics: Of all colors, Red Light penetrates fog best. That’s why Benny the Blue-nosed reindeer never got the gig.
Once again, my dear people, Merry Christmas is here, With holly and mistletoe And its good will and cheer! With its joys and its heartaches, With its laughter and song, It comes as a reminder That time marches along. This reminder from Gertrude Tooley Buckingham likely gets a “Too True” from most of us.
This from Jay Leno should have perhaps been omitted but alas, The Supreme Court has ruled that they cannot have a nativity scene in Washington D C. This wasn’t for any religious reasons. They couldn’t find three wise men and a virgin.
Let’s just hope that Julia Peterkin’s rumor has not reached your home, I hear that in many places something has happened to Christmas; that it is changing from a time of merriment and carefree gaiety to a holiday which is filled with tedium; that many people dread the day and the obligation to give Christmas presents is a nightmare to weary, bored souls; that the children of enlightened parents no longer believe in Santa Claus; that all in all, the effort to be happy and have pleasure makes many honest hearts grow dark with despair instead of beaming with good will and cheerfulness.
It’s clear that Kin Hubbard was once a child, Nothing’s as mean as giving a little child something useful for Christmas.
Madeline Morse helps us with perspective, Let Christmas not become a thing Merely of merchant’s trafficking, Of tinsel, bell and holly wreath And surface pleasure, but beneath The childish glamour, let us find Nourishment for soul and mind. Let us follow kinder ways Through our teeming human maze, And help the age of peace to come From a Dreamer’s martyrdom.
Gertrude Tooley Buckingham also is here to add strength to our perspective, It matters not what the custom may be, For Christmas is loved by you and by me! Yes; the years may come and the years may go; But, when December wind doth coldly blow, We all I guess, are just children once more And we plan our gifts, as we did of yore.
That unknown author is still here to make sure we are still smiling, Three phrases that sum up Christmas are: Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men, and Batteries not Included.
Speaking of batteries, Bernard Manning said, I once bought my kids a set of batteries for Christmas with a note on it saying, toys not included.
P J O’Rourke is back with this, Christmas begins about the first of December with an office party and ends when you finally realize what you spent, around April fifteenth of the next year.
Kin Hubbard might as well get a chance to join in, Next to a circus there ain’t nothing that packs up and tears out faster than the Christmas spirit.
J L W Brooks has what is all we need to know, Keep your Christmas-heart open all the year round.
The always with us unknown author shares the sentiment, Wouldn’t life be worth the living, Wouldn’t dreams be coming true If we kept the Christmas spirit All the whole year through?
Let’s hope we hear Irving Berlin’s message along with the music, I’m dreaming of a white Christmas, Just like the ones I used to know, Where the tree tops glisten And children listen To hear sleigh bells in the snow….
Grace Noll Crowell said, Whatever else be lost among the years, Let us keep Christmas still a shining thing; Whatever doubts assail us, or what fears, Let us hold close one day, remembering Its poignant meaning for the hearts of men. Let us get back our childlike faith again.
Let’s be sure not to miss the wisdom of Oren Arnold and his gift suggestions, To your enemy forgiveness. To an opponent tolerance. To a friend your heart. To all charity. To every child a good example. To yourself, respect.
May you have the merriest of Christmases and a hap hap happy new year.