I still believe…

You don’t need me to tell you that Christmas isn’t all about the presents. But this time last week, there were almost no presents to be found in this household! In fact a frantic weekend was to be had of what can only be described as a spree of haphazard panic shopping. Besides a big dose of late preparation, what else could fuel such an event than a presence of the Covid in the family nine days before Christmas. Not just one dollop but two. So it goes to reason that the chances of more out of the five of us could catch it was highly possible.

The ease of online shopping obviously helps. Plus the generous offer from friends to help pick up groceries for Christmas dinner after I realised the only Christmas dinner contribution I had at that point was some cranberries. Essential definitely. But rather redundant without a side of something to go with it.

So as each morning passed with a negative result from both Husband and myself, we got one step closer to being Christmas ready. But whilst there would be presents on Christmas morning and Christmas dinner at some point later that day, and getting all these things ready is part of the fun and tradition of this festive season, the shine was rather lacklustre.

Perhaps largely due to impact of the Covid symptoms, #1, 2 and 3 were less than forthcoming with a Christmas wish list, let alone writing a letter to Father Christmas. Especially for #3 who wouldn’t be able to take her own letter to the postbox. It’s enough to make your heart sigh, wondering if this is when you stop believing in the magic because with those days of isolation and testing, there could be no guarantee that any plans you wanted to make would actually happen. And if anyone needed to be an Elf this year, I certainly knew of a couple who could do with that kind of sparkle.

Christmas is a feeling. Of warmth and joy at parties with friends, reunions with family, walks in the cold to get a hot chocolate whilst being surrounded by pretty twinkling lights. Nine days may not seem like a long time but it can feel like a long time when you’re a young child and one of the most exciting, magical times of the year is happening outside and you want to be part of it. And so, as luck and chance would have it, it’s Christmas Eve and all test negative so we can get outdoors to enjoy the cold fresh air together with family for hot chocolate and red wine, a visit to see Father Christmas pop down a chimney and Elves teaching you Elfy stuff, an evening of getting properly Christmas Day ready with food out for the reindeer, magic dust and a poem to unleash the power of Christmas everywhere.

This Christmas Eve, I cannot be more thankful that we got to do everything we wanted to share some hope, joy and fun and see big happy smiles and restore some of the excitement that being a child at Christmas is all about. And I can honestly say that I still do believe in the magic of Christmas.

Perhaps this will also remind me to get myself more organised earlier next year. Well, that would be too much of a Christmas miracle!

Merry Christmas Eve to you and yours. x

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Chung Yeung Festival

I’ve been getting more acquainted with my Chinese heritage lately. At first I wasn’t really sure what I was expected to do but you soon learn through the family grapevine. There are two occasions each year that are observed to pay our respects to our ancestors. Ching Ming or Tomb Sweeping Day, is around April and is as you would expect, a day for spring cleaning your ancestors tomb.

Today is Chung Yeung, the ninth day of the ninth month in the Lunar calendar. A festival and public holiday in Chinese culture when we take the time to visit the ancestral tombs and temples or cemetery. We bring fruit, meat and wine. We burn candles and incense and offerings that will go to the afterlife to be received by those in our family line who are no longer with us.  And in doing so, we are saying ‘we remember you.’  There is a real sense of family and community as we go about this and often you don’t just take care of your immediate family but your extended too.

Until now when I have had to take on some of the responsibility myself, I barely paid much attention to these two festivals. I’m learning as you go along I guess you’d call it. And when you don’t fully understand why you’re doing something, it’s easy to start thinking perhaps you can cut corners a bit. Does it matter that we don’t have apples if we have oranges? Can we have roast chicken instead of roast pork because you can only get that in Chinatown?

The answer is yes, you probably could cut corners but then you remember why you’re doing this.  You remember they liked roast pork best of all and drank Chinese tea instead of wine and liked Rich Tea biscuits. And so this festival becomes something much more than just custom and tradition. It is our way of showing love for those we no longer have close by.

I don’t cut corners for Chinese New Year and Mid Autumn Festival because I know the folklore and customs behind it. And the same with this festival, I will observe it as best I can.

I remember years ago a conversation with my Dad, Mr Li about Chung Yeung and he was saying that my Por Por would have nothing that year because for some reason no offerings were being burnt. The conversation went something like this:

“Your Por Por will have no new clothes this year, no money to buy anything, no food even. Actually she could probably ask some of your other ancestors for some food but you can’t exactly ask them for money to go and buy new clothes. She’s just going to have to end up in rags for this year and we’ll have to send her much more next year.”

And with these words in mind, I hope they’re all enjoying a big feast and shopping spree.