Traditions

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and government will be upon his shoulder and his name will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9: 6 

 

Before Christmas, a friend and I went to a Danish Christmas dinner sponsored by the Norden Club of Lincoln. I was hoping to learn more about the Danish traditions for the holidays and how closely it matched with that of my Danish grandparent’s and my mother. There was pickled herring( which went fast), pork roast, 2 kinds of potatoes, red cabbage, pickled beets, gherken pickles, elderberry wine, and a sweet loganberry dessert. We were lucky to sit at a table with other Danes who readily shared their old holiday traditions as well. There was a speaker from Denmark who shared that the Danes started the advent season early on the first Friday in November at 8:49 p.m.—when the new beer was brought in from that year –and a good time was had by all. He also talked about the tradition of a pine tree being brought into the house and lit with candles. My mother had talked about this in rural S.D. during the depression when the trees were dry and my grandmother only let the candles burn briefly so that the house would not catch on fire. There were many traditions that we all had in common. But one tradition was having oyster stew on Christmas Eve. It took me a long time to get rid of that one as I hated it. However, the lasting tradition we all shared was going to church on Christmas Eve to a candle lit service with choirs and scripture readings, carols, and the message of  peace that it gives to all. Despite the hubbub of the holidays, the shopping, the gifts, the parties –the best tradition of all is celebrating the real meaning of Christmas that shines through our multiple generations. The long awaited Christ child is born.

 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us your son. Thank you for his gift of hope, his love, and his peace. Amen.

Nancy Hall