It's that time again. The most wonderful time of year. Christmas.
From the very first Christmas song heard on the radio to the mess created in a living room on the morning of December 25th, the entire month is filled with the magic of experience. The lights, sights, sounds, smells, bells, and gifts are one thing. The joy, traditions, anticipation, togetherness, and sharing is another.
But there's something profound occurring amidst it all. Beyond the shuffling from one party to the next and the making of one batch of sweets to the next is the making of something more lasting –– memories.
Christmas is the most wonderful time of year because of the memories. Memories we hold dear and memories we tell every and any chance we get. The moments with family, like laughing with cousins so hard that it counts as an ab workout. Or the experiences that are unmistakably Christmas in nature like opening your door to a caroling crew.
For most of us, Christmas has become a series of calendar dates, to-do's, and shopping lists.
But do you remember when Christmas was about watching your green and red countdown chain shrink, making paper snowflakes, and having what seemed like an endless amount of days off school? I'm talking about experiencing Christmas as a kid. Do you remember what Christmas was like as a five-year-old? At seven? Nine?
How many of you remember putting together Christmas lists, crafting handwritten letters to be sent to the North Pole, decorating the tree, and prepping cookies and milk for Santa?
Who remembers falling backward into a fresh coat of snow and barely being able to fall asleep on Christmas Eve?
Every one of us can recall the best Christmas gift we received growing up, right? Isn't it crazy to think that you might witness a little one unwrap their unforgettable Christmas memory this season?
This Christmas season, we want to encourage you to recapture your youth. Try to see things through the eyes of your younger self. If you're having a hard time, then take some time to slow down with a son, daughter, grandchild, niece, nephew, or neighbor in your life. Ask them about their Christmas experience. You'll quickly get a refresher course on joy, wonder, imagination, and excitement.
Laura Ingalls Wilder once said, “Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.”
At Albanese, we put all we have into making good food because we believe it brings people together. And we love making Christmas themed treats precisely because this magical season does the same. Make the most of every moment, and never forget the Christmas of your youth.