Saturday, November 26, 2005

Deck the Halls with....

'tis the season to be grumpy about commercialism.

Not here though :-)

Here at the Palace We (that's the Royal We) look past the stock, the tat, the price tags and see what really counts.

When the Queen parades through her local shopping precinct, she doesn't see the products. She sees the colours, the pretty lights, the warmth.

And she's not daft, she knows they are there to tempt the weak buyer - but she is strong enough to walk through the shops, content to merely admire the pretty decorations, humming along to old favourite Christmas tunes and seeing children gape in awe at Santa walking past munching on a sandwich. Nary a penny comes out of her purse on an impulse.

I learnt from the Masters. No one can be totally cynical when shopping with a small child at Christmas. I thank God I have had that opportunity many times over the years. The child doesn't see the stock, they see the tinsel, and the glitter and the lights. They see the myth realised of Santa and his elves. They see love and comfort. We as cynical adults have to learn to see past the commercialism to what the stores don't realise we can see. Light, warmth, and bright colours.

Which is why, when Crazie Christmas comes around, the Palace will, as ever, be decorated with tinsel (about five years old), brightly coloured baubles (about ten years old), pretty lights (SO old I have lost count) and four little Santas (40 years old!! Originally one each for me and my siblings). There will be the wooden Polish nativity scene passed to me from my Polish stepfather's parents, and a wonderful ancient set of Chinese chimes (which include such wishes as 'Peace', 'Hope' etc) passed to me from my mother.
The present little Crazies (my precious Aginothlings) will enter my house at the appointed time and, as they do each year, will ooh and ahh at the tree, the tinsel, the lights and the pretty baubles - which cost me nothing except love.

Of course, don't get me wrong, there will be presents under the tree. Gifts which I know people want and will enjoy (because they have asked for them!) and gifts which are within my budget. The brightly coloured wrapping paper adds to the magic, and it is a cheap and cheerful addition to the decoration.

So, when you are cursing the crush and wishing Christmas didn't exist - look up. Look up and see the tree in the street glittering with lights, see the tinsel in the windows flickering from headlights and streetlights, see the colour and light reflected in a child's wondrous gaze, and if you look hard enough.......you might just see a star, twinkling high above.

cq

21 comments:

Aginoth said...

It's all your fault ;o)

Sniff

Cough

Achooooooo

MSM :o)

carmilevy said...

I like your perspective on the season. I'll keep it in mind as I battle the crowds while seeking out the more mundane consumables of my suburban life.

Guess who sent me again. Ain't she grand?

Juggling Mother said...

You like shopping with a small child? Come take LMB away for the day! I get greeted in the morning with "shopping mummy". as soon as we're dressed, it's "shopping now mummy". Whenever we walk out of the front door, she yells "shopping, shopping, shopping". As we come home from shopping, she erupts in tears, and "more shopping mummy". When we finish dinner & I suggest she has a yoghurt for dessert, she says "get jelly at shopping mummy". As I put her to bed, she drifts off to sleep, asking "go shopping next day mummy".

And I've agreed to take her, LMD & cousin G to central london next week to see santa.

help!

craziequeen said...

Aginoth - you can't say I'm not generous...and please tell your wife it's not 'MY' cold....

Carmi - well, one has to keep some sanity in the madness :-)

cq

craziequeen said...

ah, Mrs A - LMB has discovered the joys of shopping? Told you you'd regret having two girls :-) :-)

I'll take her off your hands - used to do it a lot with Boo, much to silentmum's delight....

cq

The Mistress of the Dark said...

It's all about the pretty lights for me at Christmas.

Here via Michele's once again.

Juggling Mother said...

She does tend to think that shopping entails sweets, cake, biscuits & toys, with the occasional new clothes (for her) thrown in!

Back cos MSM

MaR said...

Well, my dear, we do stay out of the consumption madness. The Mar household is a thresome bunch enjoying the slopes as a Xmas present since 1994...(it is not for free but I guess you get the point) Not this year,tho..:( we'll have to wait until february.
(you put pressure on those of us who are glad to have a new post every other day!)

craziequeen said...

mar - stop talking about the proliferation of posts - or I'll shut up out of embarrassment....

I actually had another one for today - but that can wait... :-)

And my brother and his family also hit the slopes each Christmas :-) As you know I will be hitting the slopes (not literally, I hope) in January....

cq

Aginoth said...

I've not been skiing since Iwas 14...would love to go again.

Michelle sent me

aprilbapryll said...

I can't wait to enjoy Christmas with children -- I know there's money and heartache, but to see Christmas through fresh eyes again ... one day I'll have kids though.

Michele sent me.

dena said...

We are having the most fun today putting it all out for our annual Christmas show. It's even more fun than previous years, since our four-year-old just can't get enought of it all. We haven't stopped since 8:00 this morning, and we still have tons more to do.

michele sent me your way!

craziequeen said...

Allowing for the obvious annoyances [nods to Mrs A] I am always jealous of people with their own small children at Christmas.....

I remember a quote from the mists of past
'of course, it's all for the children'.

We just have to remember to be children....

cq

CyberKitten said...

That's OK... I'm a child... Well, at heart anyway............

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Ohhh I love this, VERY VERY much, CQ! It IS all about what the children see and we must nurture the child in us so that WE too, see what they see....It sure sounds like you do that and I think it's GREAT! Have you ever seen New York at Christmas time??? Oh My!!! It surely is The Dreams Come True, for every child and every adult, too....I was in London one other time and it was just the beginning of the decorations for Christmas...at Harrods? That was pretty great, too.

I hope you take photo's for all of us across the pond to see...I truly look forward to that!

Twisted Cinderella said...

What a lovely reminder about the truth of Christmas. I am looking forward to viewing Christmas through my Little Princess 4 year old eyes.

Aginoth said...

mmmmmm christmas crazie time :o)

msm :o)

craziequeen said...

yep - designed the invite before I fell ill with the dread affliction...so it's on my computer at work.

cq

Poppy B. said...

Amen! Testify, sister! :D

--P.

craziequeen said...

Hello stranger :-) sounds magical...hope Boo enjoys it.
And kudos on her still believing in Santa - every little girl needs something to believe in...

cq

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