Christmas Eve

Whether or not the season holds religious significance to you, it’s a magical time that promotes good will between most of us who share this earth. In spite of over-commercialization and hectic schedules, there is an underlying feeling of peace that prevails, and I have only good memories.

As a child in North Dakota we could expect snowy and cold weather every Christmas. On Christmas Eve, two extended families would gather at our paternal grandparent’s farm house, built on the land my grandmother homesteaded as a nineteen-year-old Norwegian immigrant at the turn of the last century.  She always prepared a traditional meal that was half-American and half Norwegian, and the best of both cultures. Real candles in metal holders decorated the small fir Christmas tree, and were only lit when it was time to open the mountain of gifts that threatened to overwhelm the tree. Most of the colored wrappers contained inexpensive toys and practical clothing, but my favorite gift was always the one from my grandparents…and it was the same every year…a carton of Winchester Super X .22 long rifle cartridges wrapped in a pair of wool socks.

While in the Air Force, Christmases were spent in the blockhouse at our missile site in Germany. We single airmen volunteered to work on Christmas and Hanukah so the married guys could celebrate special holidays with their families, and the favor was always returned in some way. Those little gifts of time were so important to the camaraderie that binds the military.

On Christmas Eve, there was almost no live programming on either the Armed Forces Network, or German radio, and as today it was mostly pre-recorded Christmas music. Winter in the ancient Hunsruck mountains is snow, snow, and more snow, and in my mind I can still see the huge flakes drifting slowly downward, covering the missiles and ground support equipment. Later we would have to sweep and de-ice the missiles, but for the moment the heavy snow muffled every sound and for a short time it did indeed become a “Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht”.

This Vienna Boys Choir version of that old song seemed to be the favorite of everyone in the German speaking countries, and it’s beautiful in any language. Merry Christmas Everyone!