Editor:
I have been asking my great-granddaughter, friends and any other children I have met the last month, “What is Christmas?”
They all answered “presents!”
When I informed them that is the “birth of Christ,” they were surprised or would not believe me.
When I was growing up, nobody received presents and we did not for most of the population have all the material things people have today.
We were so excited because Christ was born and we would have the whole family together to decorate the Christmas tree with cookies, apples, walnuts and candy wrapped in shiny foil. Then we went to midnight service and come home to share a wonderful meal we all helped to prepare.
Christmas Day, we visited friends and neighbours to make sure everybody was well or if they needed help.
There was not one person asking for donations everywhere people went. People spent time together and took care of each other – not just at Christmas but every other day.
That is what Christmas and life should be about.
Mary Mikelson, Surrey
