The Ghost of Christmas Past

by Clarence of Beldon

No, this is not the story of Ebenezer Scrooge. I'll leave that to the new Disney Movie. I'm going to tell you about the Past Christmas Season as it was celebrated by the families of Henri of Twin Brook and Clarence of Beldon. I can't envision what will happen the upcoming Holiday Season since Henri and his person are no longer with us. I miss them both.

The holidays of December are a happy time for humans, felines, and even dog Ashley. Our household celebrates four holidays: 12/21 Winter Solstice, 12/24 Christmas Eve, 12/25 Christmas, and 12/31 New Year's Eve. There aren't any Christians in our home, so why celebrate December 25th here? It is a joyous day for many people and we are not the type who get upset when we hear a Carol or see a Creche. Our beliefs include not just tolerance of the beliefs of others but embracing them. We live in a diverse neighborhood and don't mind if someone wishes us a Merry Christmas. This doesn't happen often since with Christians, Jews, Muslims, Pagans, Hindus, non-believers and others all living on the block people prefer to just say, "Happy Holidays."

The December holiday season starts with decorations. A wreath with a blinking LEDs and kitty is placed on the door. Strings of colorful light bulbs are placed on a large bush outside the Living Room window. These festive lights can be seen by those outside and in. The tree is brought up from the basement (the persons don't trust us cats with a real tree). We call it a Christmas tree for convenience. Actually the Pagans decorated evergreens with garlands and candles before Christ was born. The Pagans believed the deciduous trees died in the autumn and were reborn in the Spring. Only the conifers lived through the winter and remained green so they celebrated them as signs that life will last through to Spring. They also decorated their homes with boughs of Holly and Mistletoe. The she person planted many different holly bushes outside the house so we have an ample supply of branches with red or gold berries each Autumn.

The big day in our house is the Winter Solstice. This is the shortest day and people can look forward to longer days and more light and eventually Spring. We all got to open presents including Ashley who was allowed in the Living Room for this happy occasion. Unfortunately since Tonya arrived last year we found even the offer of a present to open would not keep her in the same room as Ashley. She scurried upstairs as fast as her ample girth would allow. She did eventually open her present later in the evening. If there is one thing 80 pound Ashley can do better than a cat, it is open a present. Ashley had the wrapper off her present in a second and the box open in a few more. I took advantage of that skill and asked, "Ashley, would you run your paw over my present." One swipe of that gigantic mutt's mitt and my wrapper was off! Everyone was delighted with their presents and there was much hugging between our two persons. I got a High Five from Henri when he opened the catnip I wrapped for him. Stella was delighted with her toy which was geared to the younger set. Helen of course got a pretty toy. Calicos are always special.

look closely, you will see Sidney under the tree

When everyone was done and we sat around eating treats and telling stories there were still a few presents under the tree. The persons always keep a few set aside for Christmas morning, so we can have another holiday with presents. There was one gift for our special friend from up North who arrives Christmas Eve. I don't mean the jolly fellow dressed in red. I mean a wiry fellow who dresses in the browns of a farmer.

Once a year on the night before Christmas a friend of the he person comes for dinner. He is an old co-worker who decided to leave the hustle of Connecticut and move to a farm in Vermont. Since he does not have any family up there he comes down here to visit his relatives and spend Christmas Eve with us. Sometimes his brother comes over as well. Tradition has it that the she person cooks Cornish Hens, one more then the number of people. The extra bird is split between any people still hungry, the dog, and most important us cats. The holiday feast includes a string bean casserole with fried onions on top, a sweet potato casserole with marshmallow on top, home made bread, cranberry sauce, sparkling cider, and more. The people all agree since it is only once per year they are happy to have roughly the same dinner each Christmas Eve.

Christmas day brings holiday music and a reprise of the joy of opening presents. Later we gather in the Living Room to watch some Specials on TV. The queens squabble over who sits next to the he person, Henri, Sidney and I prefer to be alongside the she. Sidney the wimp sometimes gets on the couch first and for this day we toms don't knock him to the floor. Once in 2006 our persons took Henri and I to New York City by train to see the Holiday Decorations. Us cats took lots of fotos that can be seen at http://claw.org/Henri/ story #101, "Our Trip to New York City on Christmas Day." I often visit his web site to remember him. 2006 was a very special Christmas.

No story of December Holidays is complete without New Years Eve! Our persons would take us along for a walk around a city which had what persons call, "First Night." Over the years we went to a half dozen different First Night locations. Most were in Connecticut, one was in Rhode Island. There are many performances to watch. The evening ends with fireworks that became our Holiday tradition. OK, the fireworks were technically not in December since they started just seconds after midnight. After the fireworks we always headed for our favorite Diner where we had Cheesecake. Us cats had to wait in the car to eat on the way home but they have the best cheesecake Henri and I have ever tasted..

I hope all the kitties, persons, dogs, rats, squirrels, sparrows, swans, and opossums who appeared in Henri's stories over the years have a wonderful Holiday Season.
Clarence of Beldon

Back