Lens-Artists Challenge # 128 – Here Comes the Holiday Season
“A holiday is an opportunity to journey within.”
Prabhas
How lovely of Ann-Christine to offer us an opportunity to remember holidays past and to think about those of 2020 and the years ahead. For me, the holidays cover a wide range of traditions. Our kids and my husband’s family are in New York, and we begin the holidays celebrating Chanukah with them. From there we head south to New Jersey where my large family has gathered for Christmas every year until this one, no exceptions. Unfortunately this year it’s zoom calls all round instead.
“One candle can light another. See how its own light increases, as a candle gives its flame to the other. You are such a light.”
Moshe Davis
My parents, who sadly are no longer with us, always made a major fuss for Christmas. With 5 children, so long as any of us believed in Santa there were neither gifts nor a tree to be seen before Christmas morning. As we grew up, it was a big treat to pretend to sleep until the little ones dozed off, only to sneak downstairs to help mom and dad decorate the tree and distribute the gifts. Imagine how tired they must have been on Christmas day! Once we’d all grown up it became our tradition to attend Midnight Mass followed by hot chocolate and shared memories of Christmases past.
“Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts.”
Janice Maeditere
Last year our visit to New York, in addition to precious time with family, included a stop at the Oculus, which was beautifully decorated for the holiday. To me it looked like a Currier and Ives painting come to life. I’ve included a small part of it in the image above.
“Often, it is through simple and unrecognized miracles that we are able to feel the warmth of hope and light.”
Rabbi Rafael Goldstein
Our family hosts in New Jersey really get into the spirit of the holiday. They prepare a full dinner for 26 of us, including our libations of choice – fully dressed for the occasion 😊. We all participate in a “white elephant” exchange – where we try to present an original or humorous gift to the person whose name we’ve drawn. That’s my husband below, who once received a framed magazine cover with his head and mine attached to muscle-bound bodies. If only!
“At Christmas, all roads lead home.”
Marjorie Holmes
Before heading north, back on Kiawah much of the holiday revolves around golf. In addition to the ladies-only Holiday Mixer I featured last week, we also have a couples ” Santa Open”. We begin with a pot-luck dinner at the home of a participating couple. It’s followed the next day with the first of two days of golf . We finish with an awards dinner at a local restaurant ending with some enthusiastically if poorly sung Christmas Caroling 🎶🎶.
“It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future.”
Agnes M. Pharo
That’s me above and with my husband below, during last year’s Santa Open. Sadly this was the first time in 20 years we were unable to hold the event. But like many things we’re hoping it will be back in 2021.
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. “
Helen Keller
We look forward to sharing your holiday memories and plans. Remember to link them to Ann-Christine’s original post here, and to use the Lens-Artists Tag to help us find you. I’ll close by wishing everyone the happiest of holidays, Covid notwithstanding. Remember that by staying home the loved ones you save may be your own. Surely they are with you in spirit as you are with them.
The Lens-artists team will be enjoying a holiday next week and will return on Saturday, January 2. I’ll be your host here on Travels and Trifles and the challenge will be “Favorite Photos of 2020”. Until then, we thank each and every one of you for your support and creativity as our community has grown throughout the year. Wishing everyone a joyful holiday and a Happy New Year. Here’s to 2021!
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Travels and Trifles 
Was definitely a non holiday in 2020….We all made the best of it! Here’s to a fabulous 2021!!
Beautiful as always. Happy New Year! It’s got to get better. Love
On Sat, Dec 19, 2020 at 12:02 PM Travels and Trifles wrote:
> Tina Schell posted: ” SANTA REIGNS “A holiday is an opportunity to journey > within.” Prabhas How lovely of Ann-Christine to offer us an opportunity to > remember holidays past and to think about those of 2020 and the years > ahead. For me, the holidays cover a wide ran” >