The Tree, the Table, and Angela Merkel

Every year at this time there is discussion on the origins of some of the most prominent Christmas traditions and symbols. Like how the Christmas tree has several beginnings from several cultures, mainly because celebrations involving plants and/or logs to burn on the fire have always been quite common. Perhaps you heard that the earliest Christmas trees were decorated with apples, which is probably why the round red ornaments are so popular and iconic. Or how Martin Luther was the first to bring a Christmas tree indoors. Or how Christmas lights on those trees used to be candles. This simply blows my mind. How did they all not end up burning their houses down?

But what I’d like to talk about has more to do with what goes under the tree, and what goes on the table at Christmas. Earlier today I was having a conversation with two family members. We were talking about turkeys and how their cost might be higher and their availability lower this year. We talked about how the food bank was in a difficult spot because of the high cost of groceries, a reality we have all had to put up with in our pandemic context these last two years. It is hard isn’t it? I mean, when times are tough financially, how exactly can we manage to donate? Yet it is during these times that the donations are more important than ever before.

And this is where the difference comes between good times and bad. In the good times, we donate. We give. But in the tough times, we share.

This brings me to good ol’ Angela. You’ve likely already heard that she is now no longer the Chancellor of Germany after filling that role for the last 16 years. I, for one, think she was one of the best world leaders, if not the best, of the past decade. I recently heard about when she had allowed over one million refugees into Germany during the Syrian crisis and how she was criticized strongly for it. Her critics said that Germany’s economy was already struggling and that the immigrants posed a threat. But Angela believed in her fellow Germans. She responded simply with “Wir schaffen das,” which can be translated to “We will manage.”

So don’t forget to share this season. Maybe there are some gifts, traditions, or foods that you can go without this year so that you will be able to manage. Because really, if the phrase “it just isn’t Christmas without ____” rolls off your tongue often in December, then you’re doing it wrong. Wir schaffen das.

Congratulations Groot and Guardians of the Galaxy. This is your week.

And the Oscar goes to…

Best Actress:

Linda Hunt as Grandmother Willow in Pocahontas. This is the actor who was the first person to ever earn an Oscar for playing a character of the opposite gender in 1982. She looks a lot like Edna E Mode from The Incredibles (2004), don’t you think?

Best Actor: John Rhyss Davies as both Gimli and the voice of Treebeard in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Best Quote: “I am Groot.” – Vin Diesel as Groot in Guardians of the Galaxy 

Want to hear something weird? How about two weird things? Ok, so first of all, Christmas was banned in Cuba from 1969-1998. Castro didn’t want any religious celebrations. They brought it back in 98 when the Pope came to visit. Fidel sure knew how to kill a party.

Secondly, Turkey doesn’t celebrate Christmas. Turkey! I suppose there aren’t many Christians living in that country, but that it’s the birthplace of St. Nicholas! Mercy me…