Julie’s Blog

Happy New Year!

January 8, 2008 on 7:22 am | In Uncategorized | No Comments

Twelfth Night - January 6th is the 12th night after Christmas; the night we take down and pack away all our Christmas decorations. (Nothing to do with Shakespeare.) It’s also known as Epiphany in the church calendar and the Day of the 3 Kings, since this was the time the 3 Kings arrived in Bethlehem bearing gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. This is why the children in Mexico receive their presents on January 6th, “el día de Reyes”, the day of the Kings, or Wise Men Day. The children place their shoes by the window, so the Magi can place presents in the shoe. If a present is bigger than the shoe, it will be placed next to it. In Scandanavian and some other European countries children also place their shoes by the door or window in the hopes that Saint Nicholas will fill them with goodies, but this happens on December 6th. This tradition dates back to the time when shoes were left outside and Saint Nicholas walked the village streets placing food in the shoes of needy families.

The house usually looks extremely bare after being stripped of its holiday finery, but this year it remains full of color and life only an “almost 2 year old” can bring to it. My daughter, son-in-law and grandson have been staying with us since before Thanksgiving while they look for a new home and it has been exciting to say the least. (Now you know why there’s been a large gap between blog entries.) It’s an odd feeling being a grandmother, I feel I ought feel old! My own grandmother, was the epitome of what one believes a grandmother to be. She was small and round with gray hair and very snuggly looking. I, on the other hand, have found that being a grandmother means sitting in the bathroom with a large stuffed horse across my knees and a “Thomas the Tank Engine” sticker on the end of my nose. I get to play in an inflatable house filled with large colored balls and am delighted to find I no longer feel guilty for not using the teadmill, after all, who needs a treadmill when there’s a toddler to chase you……..

2008 is already a week old, but I still would like to take this belated opportunity to wish everyone a very happy, healthy, blessed and prosperous New Year. May 2008 be everything you hope and dream it will be.