“‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse…” Originally a simple poem written by biblical scholar and professor, Clement Clarke Moore for his children in 1822, “The Night Before Christmas” is the most well-recognized, iconic holiday poem in American pop culture.

I remember the nights before Christmas as a lad growing up in a small community, those were the best of times. The days leading up to December 25. The smell of mom baking cookies and candy, the rooms all decorated with Christmas decor and the smell of pine from the fresh cut tree. How great it would be to go back in time to recapture those precious moments!

All the gifts under the tree with no name tags on them and trying to figure out what was in them. Yet knowing that more would arrive on Christmas Eve after everyone had gone to bed. Christmas in America is filled with traditions, old and new. Thinking back I remember Christmas caroling with our Church group. That was a time I didn’t look forward to, today it’s nearly lost with the times. Mom also was big on eggnog, there had to be eggnog even though no one liked it. I later found out that real eggnog had a little kick to it, spiked with a little ale or wine.

I remember going to a friend’s house to watch “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” It seemed so real even on that small 19 inch black and white screen.

If there’s a pickle among your snowman, angel and reindeer ornaments, you’re likely taking part in the American tradition of hiding the green ornament on the tree, so that the first child to find it wins a gift, or gets to open the first present on Christmas morning.

Jolly old St. Nick. portrayed mostly as Santa was really a Christian Monk who lived in the third century. So how did they get us to believe he would come down the chimney of every house around the world especially when most don’t have chimney’s? But we still believed it!

I don’t know who likes Gingerbread Cookies. Just the sound of Gingerbread made me sick. But everyone makes them. Then someone came up with the bright idea of Gingerbread houses.

Another unbelievable tradition we practiced for years was leaving cookies and milk for Santa. And everybody did it knowing it was someone in the family who would get the treat. It was an old ancient mythology that Americans took up in the 1930’s as a sign of showing gratitude during a time of struggle in the great depression.

Many of our tree decorations consisted of Red and White peppermint sticks called candy canes. Another one of my least favorite treats. It’s a tradition that started back in the 1800’s when a German-Swedish immigrant in Wooster, Ohio placed them on a tree.

Door Wreaths, we still hang them up today. Many are really beautiful, but what we used to make from old pine tree branches now cost upwards of 200 bucks. Now let’s not forget everyone’s favorite ‘Christmas Cards.’ The first official Christmas card debuted in 1843 England with the simple message, “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You.” Today, according to the Greeting Card Association, more than 1.6 billion holiday cards are sold annually. The Invention of Christmas Lights began when Edward Hibberd Johnson, a friend of Thomas Edison had the bright idea of stringing bulbs around a Christmas tree in New York in 1882.

Lining up at the mall to snap a photo of the kids on Santa’s lap may seem like a modern Christmas tradition, but it dates back to 1890, when James Edgar of Brockton, Massachusetts had a Santa suit made, and dressed as the jolly fellow at his dry goods store. The gimmick caught on and a year later Santas could be found in many stores.

Fruit cake, another one of my least desired treats, can be eaten or tossed. For example, in 1985 Johnny Carson cracked, “The worst Christmas gift is fruitcake. There is only one fruitcake in the entire world, and people keep sending it to each other.”

I always liked the 12 days of Christmas song. It’s kind of a goofy song, but it puts you in the spirit. A good gesture you can count on is the bell-ringers. The Salvation Army collects money for the needy, something that has taken place since 1891. It was started by a man in England that wanted to raise enough money to offer a free Christmas dinner for 1,000 hungry people. He set up a kettle for people to toss in coins.

Now here we are again “The night before Christmas”, a time like none other. It’s that special time, the most anticipated time of the year. However you spend your Christmas Eve and your Christmas Day, our wish for you is comfort and joy. May you have the Christmas you want.

When you open your presents, may they be thoughtful and fit just right.

When you dig in your stocking, may it be filled with unexpected treasure.

When you sit down to dinner, may you be nourished as much by what is on the table as by the people who surround it.

When you close your eyes at the end of the day, may you sigh with contentment.

And when you remember this day in the future, may you think fondly of a holiday well spent.

That is our wish for you — a day filled with peace and love.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!