Christmas season! December! Snow! Lights!
December 2025, here we come!
Just a day or so, they put up the Christmas tree downtown in my community. Complete with song, Santa Claus, and snacks. And lights are showing up on homes and businesses.
For me, December is starting to look a lot like Christmas.
In a few days, our tree and lights will be up, and plans will be made for our Christmas with family. (Sadly, we will be missing my brother, Larry, who passed away in October. Even harder is the fact that his birthday is the day after Christmas season.)
Between here and there, we have a lot of territory to cover.
Over the years, I have written hundreds of stories about Christmas. Stories about lighting displays in communities across the Northeast. Travel stories about visiting shops, displays, and hot chocolate hangouts! I have posted thousands of videos and pictures of lights, trees, and houses with Christmas. I have included my favorite Christmas commercials over the years.
Heck, I even wrote a book on the now “old-fashioned” Christmases of my youth.
My oldest grandson told me on Thanksgiving that his family was headed to the Shelburne Museum to see the lights and the displays. I wrote about that trip about a year ago. I was glad to hear they were carrying the dream. My oldest daughter said they were headed to a decorated mansion in their area near Boston.
I love lights. I used to take my kids to places like La Sallette in Enfield, Bright Lights in Springfield, Massachusetts, and perhaps my favorite was the Chakalos farm in West Chesterfield. And there are certainly others. (You might suspect I tune into The Great Christmas Light Fight , which will start December 4th this year!)
Find that experience and set your sights on it. Whether it be ice skating, a tour to Christmas lights, or even skipping the gifts, maybe for something cool. The Constitution Plaza in Hartford is awesome, and there are whole neighborhoods that are decorated. In the Northeast, Yankee Candle or Kringle Candle will open the eyes of even the smallest child!
With so many struggling, perhaps this is the year of minimalism and the time to get involved. Community Kitchens, homeless shelters, nursing homes, and more. (As a child, we brought Christmas choirs and plays to the nursing homes.) Maybe it is getting involved with your local church to help them.
And one of my faves was making gifts or offering coupons for “services.” When my grandchildren were young, my wife and I offered “babysitting” services. And I have made Christmas breads and such for families.
I mentioned church-related, but one of my favorites was the advent candle and of course, those amazing advent cards! Maybe you adopt a family in need, and you make it about them!
One thing I heard about was a secret Santa who gave gifts of kindness. That resonates with me!
I hope you will share your Christmas thoughts, traditions, along with videos and pics.
This year will be different for me and mine. But my prayer for you and yours is that it be incredible for you.
