Sharing Inner Gifts
a family celebration adapted by Betsy Williams
from Family Festivals

Christmas Beatitude

Blessed are the parents
who know how big is Christmas-and how small.
Who lead the way to the fireside
Rather than the toy-counter.
Their children will follow them.

Blessed are the parents
Who stop in the midst of the party-going
and the gift-buying and the card-addressing
To hear the simple song of love.
Their children will also hear the music.

Blessed is the family that knows
How big is christmas-and how small.
Their whole year will shine
With happy memories,
And a zest for living
-Betty Baker

In the spirit of this poem, here is a simple celebration for your family. it is a small ceremony which combines the wonder of lit candles slowly illuminating a darkened room with the joy of giving and receiving gifts which cannot be bought or packaged. You might choose to hold this ceremony on the winter solstice, December 21, to honor the andent tradition of bringing light to these days of greatest darkness.

Gather enough candles so that each person can light one for every family member. Place the candles around a darkened room and ask your family to sit quietly while you explain the ceremony as follows:

"Since ancient times people all over the world have held celebrations this time of year.
Decembe r21 is the winter solstice -the day with the fewest hours of sunlight. For early peoples this time was frightening. They didn't have the scientific understanding of the seasons which we have today. Ancient rites and ritual, celebrated the victory of light over darkness. Later, light came to symbolize the triumph of good over evil and the presence of the divine. Gift-giving and merrymaking were part of these happy celebrations long before the birth of Christ. In fact, some scholars believe that the early Christians chose this time of year to honor the birth of Christ because of its association with these established celebrations.

Tonight we are going to have a special ceremony to brighten our lives with candlelight and special gifts for each other which we cannot buy or even make. Think of these gifts as "inner gifts", wishes for each other which come from our hearts."

Ask each person to take a few minutes to think about non-physical gifts they would like to give each other. Then take turns lighting a candle while saying what the gift is. Encourage ideas which recognize and honor the unique spirit within each person. (For my son who loves caring for animals I might wish that he always has a heart filled with care for those in need.) As each wish is exchanged the lighted candles illuminate the room, and the feeling of true Christmas love is shared.

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Last updated August 11, 2002 by clf@uua.org