By Dot Elliott
Christmas! I love the decorations, the music, and the excitement. But it’s really about the birth of Jesus. God’s plan was so well thought out. He sent his son to be born, to grow up with a family, to do all the things I do (except sin), and to live here on earth as a man. Through the life of Jesus, God knows what it is really like to be a human. I thank God for his beautiful plan.
When I knew the truth about Santa, my sisters told me not to tell our parents, they didn’t want to miss the big gifts! However, I spoke to my parents, explaining I knew Santa was a fun story, but even if big presents stopped, I would be happy knowing my gifts came from them. “Santa” never returned, but the gratitude grew.
When I came to Italy as a missionary, I knew I would be without my children for the first time at Christmas. It would be different, but I knew I needed to learn how the Italians celebrated Christmas. Italians love to decorate: Christmas lights, music, and nativity scenes (many very elaborate) are everywhere.
For my first Italian Christmas, I was invited to the home of my friends Vittoria and Remo for a traditional Italian Christmas celebration. The celebration began with the Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve. There was baccalà, spaghetti with clams, shrimp, calamari, and more. I believe dinner started around 8:00 p.m. and we didn’t finish eating until after 10:00. After eating we played games. Just before midnight, everyone sat around the table and the gifts were passed out. Then, at midnight the unwrapping began! There were gifts in front of me, but I wanted to watch everybody else open their gifts. Everyone thanked each other for the gifts that they received and then it was time to go home for the night.
We returned to Vittoria’s again on Christmas Day for another day of food, fun, and family. In the evening, I excused myself to another room with my computer in order to video chat with my family in the U.S. I could virtually be there as they unwrapped their presents. That time we spent together made my day. I couldn’t be there in person, but through the amazement of technology I could be a part of our family’s tradition of unwrapping the gifts one at a time. I enjoyed watching their happy faces, and I even received virtual hugs. I could feel them. We went home a bit earlier than the night before, but Christmas in Italy wasn’t finished yet!
We returned the next day, St. Stephen’s Day, for another full day of leftover food, fun, and family. Christmas movies were played in the background, though I never realized Seven Brides for Seven Brothers was a Christmas movie! My first Italian Christmas consisted of three days of family Christmas celebrations.
Gift giving varies from family to family. Let’s focus on the best gift ever given and share Him with everyone. Thank you, God, for sending Jesus as a baby and growing up to be the best gift.
Dot Elliott grew up in Indiana, graduated from Cincinnati Christian University, and is the mother of three grown daughters. She now serves as a Team Expansion missionary near Rome, Italy, where she is a part-time teacher at International Christian Academy.
Author: Christian Standard
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My little sister. Yes, we folder her about the story of Santa, and she understood. Our family was strong throughout the years. With Christmas being central themed in our family, meeting, eating (a lot), unwrapping loads of gifts for young to old, and spreading the reason for the season continued through the years. Our parents’ little nativity scene with movable characters always secured a prominent location near the tree each year. We all cherish the gifts of Christmas, but the Son of the Lord is the greatest gift.