From Where I Sit

By Pat Spilseth, Columnist

Christmas cheer is finally here with all the excitement of the holiday season. Who can resist smiling when we see the splendid decorations, inspiring music, gaily wrapped gifts under the tree and family gatherings? Meals will be extra special: at my house, tradition demands that we feast on lefse, turkey or meatballs, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberries and kransekake for dessert.

A whiteout would be fabulous. The full-blown Minnesota blizzards, like the ones we had in the Fifties, would be grand for a day or two only. Winter snowstorms were the most fun when we didn’t have to drive cars over the icy roads, shovel driveways or find a way to get to work. Kids had no worries, just fun playing in the powdery snow.

For weeks, I’ve been dreaming of a white Christmas. It doesn’t feel like Christmas to me unless snowflakes are floating through the sky and white drifts make deep snowbanks outside my windows. For a few years, we enjoyed celebrating Thanksgiving in Mexico with turkey, mashed potatoes and cranberries at Sol’s Alley kitchen in Puerto Vallarta, but it wasn’t quite like Thanksgiving is supposed to be. For me, the weather has to be cold and snowy. I couldn’t imagine Christmas in any other climate but my own. I’d enjoy a snowy day with a frozen lake of skaters and skiers, a fire in the fireplace, a decorated pine tree and family. However, the weatherman isn’t hopeful that we’ll get snow for Christmas in December of 2023…Bah, Humbug!

The Saturday Evening Post magazine printed an article on Christmas trends. Did you know that 400 million people celebrate Christmas around the world? Santa’s been keeping track of the naughty and nice kids since the 1930s.  In America we leave a plate of Christmas cookies and a glass of milk by the tree for the jolly guy, but in Norway and Sweden, Santa snacks on rice pudding. Both North America and Scandinavia claim Santa as a permanent resident. On a road trip several years ago Dave and I visited Santa Claus, Indiana, with its year-round decorated streets of Santas, Christmas trees and elves. Though I enjoy a month or more of the holiday, I know it would get old if I saw Christmas decorations 365 days of the year.

In America 93% of people exchange gifts. Diamond and jewelry sales top $6 million dollars. It amazes me to read how much money parents spend per child. And who doesn’t buy at least one or two poinsettias to add color to our homes and to give away for gifts? There are at least 100 varieties of poinsettias now available at florist, grocery and drug stores. Here in the U.S., we produce enough candy canes to circle the equator 6.7 times…we are gluttons for sweet treats.

I’m looking forward to reading Christmas cards from friends. Hopefully, they’ll include a newsy letter telling about their families and photos of growing children and grandchildren. For years my husband, Dave, has had fun creating his annual Christmas epistle. Hopefully, when he does his last-minute Christmas shopping, he won’t pick up a vacuum cleaner, hammer or candle for me this year…PLEASE.

* * * * * * * *

To contact Pat, email: pat.spilseth@gmail.com.