Christmas and Jesus

In Czechoslovakia it is Baby Jesus who brings Christmas presents. The delivery time is Christmas Eve. Also Christmas Eve is main holiday with Holy Supper. The night has magic. Evening is full of expectations and soon to be fulfilled wishes. Children believe in Baby Jesus the same way as we believe in Santa. He is real. The statues of Virgin Mary holding her baby are in each Catholic church. First years after we came to United States we celebrated Christmas like in Czechoslovakia. We still celebrate Christmas Eve today. One Christmas the older child wished we could celebrate the same way like in the old country. Baby Jesus flew over the ocean to bring Christmas presents on Christmas Eve. Younger child, born in U.S.A., accepted presents, but wanted to be sure Santa is also coming and he will not skip our house. He will be here. What now? The presents were already delivered, opened, and enjoyed. Older child excused himself, went to visit freshly separated father and came back with the box full of gifts for children. We didn't have time to wrap them up in to nice packages with the name and ribbon on. Children dug out their presents. Grouchy younger child also took from the box what was hers and then complained: "Why Santa brought this year so little and that Czech guy who was here yesterday, brought much more?" Since that Christmas the presents brings only Santa. Children do not get their presents twice and everybody is happy. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, 11/15/09