It's Advent! We know Christmas is coming because of all the television commercials and Black Friday sales. I was thinking grumbly thoughts about the commercialization of Christmas, but I do have to admit that many of my Christmas memories center around presents, both given and received. My earliest Christmas memory (I was three or four years old) was of my parents leading me into a room where there was a metal doll's house with plastic furniture and battery-powered lamps that were all lit up. I carried that doll's house around with me for decades - I'm sure it was responsible for my interest in interior decoration. Since that early memory, I have received many wonderful gifts, useful gifts, strange gifts, and once, no gift at all. (Have you ever been to a gift exchange and waited with anticipation for your present to be delivered? Finally, there is only one gift left and two people sitting there, gift-less. You know it's not going to end well.)
Along with liking to receive gifts, I would put a lot of thought into choosing the perfect gift to give. One year, I went to Frederick & Nelson's specialty food shop and bought my father guava nectar, canned pineapple, canned mango, and other tropical delicacies. (This was before you could get exotic fresh fruits and vegetables year 'round at your local supermarket.) My father had spent his army career during World War II in Hawaii and looked back of those years as some of the best in his life.
Another tradition of giving and receiving revolves around Christmas cards. As soon as Thanksgiving is over, I would always sit down and write my cards. (Lately, I've been getting tardy and will be mailing my cards today, December 12). Then, every day, I run out to the mailbox to see if any cards have been delivered. Every year, we get fewer and fewer. People say they're too busy to send out cards. "This year, I'm not bothering," they say. What is happening in people's lives these days so that they can't be bothered to keep up with friends and family? E cards do not count! (I obviously haven't learned the lesson " 'Tis better to give than to receive")
I would like to suggest that you make new memories while making your own cards and gifts. My fourth grade teacher, Mr Hirabayashi, made everyone in our class (all 45 of us) woodblock cards. I still have mine. I really like the book, Quick and Clever Christmas Cards. I also recommend I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas: Gifts, Decorations, and Recipes that Use Less and Mean More. Less time in the mall, worrying about all the Covid, RSV, and 'flu germs, and more family time being creative = great memories.
Get in the spirit by reading Angels & other strangers : family Christmas stories by Katherine Paterson, A child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas, Take joy! The Tasha Tudor Christmas book by Tasha Tudor, or I'll be Home for Christmas: The Spirit of Christmas During World War II. You probably have favorite Christmas books from your childhood. These were mine: Babar and Father Christmas by Jean de Brunhoff and Madeline's Christmas by Ludwig Bemelmans. Find all of these at Plymouth Library.