Evening star., 1939-12-23
The Yuletide
Spirit Of a
Family
Christmas Should
Be Made Gayest
OF All Days
By ANGELO PATRI.

In the dark OF the year, In one
of the darkest years the people of
the earth have ever known, comes
Christmas, the brightest, gayest
merriest day of all days. Ushered in
by star, illumined by the brightest
hopes of mems hearts, peace on
earth, good will toward men, it
brings comfort and release to the
tired, troubled, overburdened ones
of earth.
We need to keep Christmas, all of
us, especially the old and weary
among us. 1t is the symbol of a
precious ideal, the rebirth of the
soul. the Immortality of goodness.
Its chief symbol is the newborn
Child, innocent, joyous, hopeful and
untouched by evil. We need the in
spiration of that ideal, especially to-
day.
We need Santa Claus, too. Long,
long ago wise men and women knew
that men could not live by bread
alone. There must be food for his
immortal spirit, that link between
earth and infinity. There must be
beauty and the power to create
beauty for oneself, which means
imagination at its best. There must
be something Of magic and mystery
and poetry always in mems lives,
for without that they return to the
dead clay from which they sprung.
Christmas is the fullest, merriest ex-
preston of that need that the race
has been able to achieve.
Then let's make this Christmas
the best we have ever known. Leave
nothing out that can give it the
color and music and light and laugh
ter that belongs to it. Dress the
tree and light it. load it with all
that tradition and today's offerings
make possible from the gold and
silver balls to the latest gadget. Hang
the wreaths gay with ribbons, stuff
the turkey and don't forget the bit
Of holly for the plum pudding.
Let the children help. Dressing
the tree is one of childhood's most
precious memories, so let your chill
dren have it. Have plenty of Sc
crets. They are half the fun. Make
the sweetmeats in the kitchen.
Christmas odors of spice and fruit
are part of childhood's inheritance
from Christmas past.
Give the elders of the family a
place of honor, for this is their day
of remembering, of living over again
some of the happiest days of their
lives, days when you were little and
very eager and very happy waiting
for Santa Claus and his pack. If
you are so unfortunate as to have
no grandfather or grandmother
maybe you can borrow one! Just to
make things perfect.
Some one must do q lot of work.
Shopping must be done, lists made
and remade, checked and re-
checked, packages done in Christ
mas style with gay papers and rib
bons and seals. Extra cooking, extra
cleaning, extra thought and care go
into the making of a real Christ
mas. But it is worth it.
When the children shrek with
Joy as they find "just what they
wanted" on Christmas morning,
when the family gathers at the
table to eat the turkey and the
f1xings, when at night the candles
are lighted and the carols sung
once more, and the old folks smile
through their tears as the young
ones trail reluctantly to their beds,
you know it is worth it. Another
link in family affection, another
link with the beauty and the mys-
terry that is God, has been forged.
Another Merry Christmas has
blessed you and yours.
Merry Christmas!
Mr.. Patri has prepared a leaf
let entitled "A Book List" Civ
ing the titles Of . wide variety
of books all children should read.
Send for it, addressing your re-
quest to Mr.. Angelo Patri, care of
The Evening Star.