Column: holiday memories through the years

12/09/08 - My parents never did the Santa Claus thing with me. When I was 13, I asked them why they never had me believe in the guy with the red suit and white beard, and they told me it's because they didn't want to feel like they were lying to their kids. I loved being in the know, and I was that kid who went around telling people Santa wasn't real. I'm a living, walking, talking Grinch. I had all the arguments, all the reasons Santa was fake. Time zones, 5 billion people and sled space were some, and I think the ACLU would have shut him down by now, if he were real. I just can't see them tolerating a guy who creeps down people's chimneys; it's an invasion of privacy at the least.

From when I was little, I always knew it was Mom and Dad who were putting the wrapped parcels beneath the tree. And we had Christmas in some very interesting places; my dad was in the Navy for 30 years, and I lived all over the country and in Japan twice.

Regardless of whom I thought was putting those gifts underneath our tree, it's always been a time of family for me. My brothers go to college elsewhere in the country. My oldest brother lives in Hawaii, and my dad still travels all over the world, this week he's in Africa.

When the six of us meet in a week and a half, we'll probably sit by the fireplace, chugging hot chocolate and make fun of each other, and tell stories about what's happened during the year. One of my older brothers was just selected to be a Marine helicopter pilot, and I'm eagerly awaiting his arrival to hear about it.

Holidays are full of stories. A historical one that always inspires me is on Christmas Eve during World War I in 1914, German soldiers began singing "Silent Night" in the area between the trenches. Thousands of allied soldiers exchanged gifts with them, and a Christmas truce was established.

That's kind of what the "Christmas spirit" is, one of giving. While in college, we're always focused on the next exam, the next paper. In December, we get some time off to think about each other and our families.

Aside from the family aspect, the holiday is a religious one for me. But whether or not you go to church on Christmas Eve, the holidays mean something to everybody, and every holiday has its own rich history and traditions.

Hanukkah marks the anniversary of the re-dedication of a temple at the time of the Maccabean Revolt against Antiochus IV Epiphanes, in the second century BCE. There was an eternal flame in the temple, and there was only enough oil for one day but it burned for eight, which is how long the holiday lasts.

Jewish people often eat Latkas, or potato pancakes, and have friendly bets with chocolate coins called Gelt, and spin dreidels, small spinning-top like objects that have Hebrew symbols on each side. The Menorah is also a tradition, a lamp with nine candles lit from the right to the left, and the one in the center is lit all eight days.

Kwanzaa was established in 1966 as a holiday to celebrate African heritage among African-Americans. It has seven principles that revolve around family unity, self-definition, a sense of community, cooperating economically, purpose, creativity and faith. Celebrations may include objects from African culture, ethnic clothing and a fest, called Karamu.

Christmas is a holiday celebrated by Christians to mark the anniversary of the birth of Jesus, a man whom Christians think was born to die for their moral shortcomings. While the holiday has become less religiously oriented, celebrants often open presents under a tree.

Take care, everybody. Happy holidays.

Sweet dreams,

Tyler