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…All 5 of them. I suppose the confluence of all the sights, sounds, scents, tastes and touches of the season with the “specialness” or “otherness” of the holiday binds the time to my senses. Here is a “taste” of the 5 senses of Christmas in the traditions that have formed me:
Sound. Over the years, my family developed a very close bond to Handel’s “Messiah” during this season so that their meaning has become intwined. The opening bars of the leading overture to that epic piece signals the opening of the Christmas season for us. Just a few notes are a powerful signal: Christmas season is here!
Taste. My wife’s family is of Scandinavian origin and heritage. Her Grandma Swe baked a special saffron coffee cake that, over time, migrated to a Christmas recipe in her family. Every year, Jan makes a couple dozen loaves, gives many away to friends and family, and, of course, we enjoy some as well, especially on Christmas morning. The day would not be complete without the taste of Grandma Swe’s saffron coffee cake.
Touch. The most pleasing touch of Christmas for me is the hugs from family members we have not seen for many months. Or, lately, the joyous hugs of grandchildren experiencing the wonder of Christmas for the first few times. These touches create memories for a lifetime.
Scent. Fir has a special connection to Christmas for us from the years and years of Douglas fir trees and branches in our home during this holiday.
Sight. The decorations of Christmas transform our home during the month of December. (This is, of course, after I lug about three dozen boxes of decorations up from the basement.) Our kitchen transforms from blue and white to red and green; our family and living rooms to another look altogether. Christmas decorations also evoke full memories of German Kris Kindlemarkts from the three years we spent there while our children were young…fabulous.
We at LDG are Christ-followers and recognize that the season has deep meaning for us that mix with the senses and traditions of the season to create a special experience that others may not share. Indeed, even many Christ-followers will have different memories of the season born of pain experienced during the season rather than the joy in many of our backgrounds. If you have those not-so-good memories, it is our strong view that you need not live shackled to them. You can learn to live beyond those memories and thrive in life—and even during a holiday that has brought pain. The best of mentors can help you do that.
Whatever your memories, your background or the circumstances you face at this Christmas, all of us at Leadership Design Group wish you a most happy and joyous Christmas and thriving New Year.
How about you? What is the favorite “sense” of Christmas from your own experience? We’d love to hear them in comments section below.
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