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My Christmas Story ...
December 3, 2019
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I had a holiday issue when I was 4 years old. My birthday is three days before Christmas day, December 22nd. This was the first birthday and Christmas I became aware those days were special. Both celebrations can be narcissistic by nature and were one big blur at the age of four.
Barely Understood ...
The birthday cake, presents, ice cream, all sorts of good stuff to eat. A four-year-old has no concept of time and days run together. You might be able to understand why my birthday, Christmas, Santa Claus, Jesus, and Rudolph "The Red Nose" Reindeer were overwhelming for me.
Confusing ...
I got presents, saw presents under what I learned was a Christmas tree. I was trying to put this all together, my sister was only three and not old enough to confide in. The concept of friends was still a new experience, so asking them questions were out of the question. Based on the presents under the tree, I assumed everyone's birthday was at Christmas.
Jesus & Santa ...
To make things more confusing, I kept hearing about Santa Claus coming to town to bring more presents. More confusion, I overheard my parents and grandparents talking about the birth of Jesus. I was trying to figure out if Jesus came with Santa on a sleigh and if the Three Wise Men I kept hearing about were also part of the equation.
Slow To Understand ...
I enjoyed all the food and presents and kept my questions to myself. I previously had not thought about birthdays, the concept was not in full focus yet. Families make a fuss about their kid's birthdays, but the age of awareness doesn't start until four, or at least that's how it was for me. It wasn't until after the first Christmas in my conscious awareness that I started realizing everyone's birthday was not on the same day as mine or near Christmas day. When I started kindergarten and we celebrated birthdays, I was starting to get it, but mine still was confusing for me.
I Didn't Ask ...
December approached and my teacher started making the distinction between Santa Claus Christmas and the birth of Christ. One thing stood out, there was no mention of my birthday, so I was starting to understand the possibility of no connection between it and Christmas. But I was still not totally convinced, because Christmas break came before my birthday.
No longer A Mystery ...
Like all those born near Christmas, the separation of secular and religious aspects became part of a timeline for my birthday. I was lucky, my birthday and Christmas were never treated as one - just one extended holiday party. That's my Christmas story.
Enjoy ...
There is more to life than radio, cherish the on-going Christmas stories you're making.......... Happy Holidays!
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