The Best and Worst Christmas Experiences

Christmas is a time filled with joy, but it can also be challenging. This article explores some of the best and worst Christmas experiences and how they have shaped our memories.

My Best Christmas: Advent Traditions

My happiest adult Christmas was one wrapped in the warmth of community and purpose. I once belonged to a church where the weeks leading up to Christmas, known as Advent, held special significance. Every Wednesday evening, there was a soup meal, prayer, and a sermon. Additionally, we made felt Christmas ornaments to take home. Advent is a time to prepare and reflect on the coming of Jesus.

One of the highlights of Advent was the lighting of a candle in an advent wreath. As we sang songs and enjoyed each other's company, the act of preparing and reflecting brought us closer together. We gathered money that would have been spent on a fancy meal and put it in a box, which was then sent to Heifer International. This organization provided chicks, ducklings, calves, or baby goat kids to women who were heads of families facing food insecurity. This sense of purpose made the holiday even more meaningful.

My Worst Christmas: Solitude and Abandonment

My worst Christmas experiences were a series of solitary Christmases over three consecutive years. Being left alone during such holidays, especially after my husband passed away, was the most desolate feeling imaginable. Not only was it a Christmas, but it also encompassed Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve/Day. My niece, who lived in another state, bugged me for two years to move closer to her. While the move was tough, I'm glad I made the transition, as it helped alleviate the loneliness.

`The Best Christmas in Times of Tension: Family Disunity

One of the most emotionally challenging Christmases for me was in 1991, when my parents separated. I was just 12 years old at the time, and my father moved out a couple of weeks before Christmas. We managed to spend the day together that year, but the following years, my sister and I had separate Christmases. The year leading up to the separation included a very loud argument a month before Christmas, and the first 6-12 months after were a tense period for us all. However, my parents have since reconciled and are now close.

A Memorable Christmas Tradition: The Sea Shanty Spectacle

Christmas Day was always special in our family, and the dinner was the highlight. One year, I spent weeks memorizing a sea shanty so I knew it by heart. I wrote it out on a large sheet of paper and unfurled it from a curtain rail at the dining table during the meal. With ten of us, each person had six party poppers, and there were six verses. The chorus ended with a fictional cannon going off, which was accompanied by the party poppers. I wore a pirate hat and encouraged everyone to sing as loudly as possible. It was a lot of fun and a memorable way to celebrate the holiday.