Christmas is a stocking stuffed with anxiety – Orange County Register

By Shaun Tumpane

Laguna Woods Globe columnist

I spent Thanksgiving week in Dallas and was astonished to see Christmas decorations already adorning front yards with blow-up Santas, blow-up snowmen, and even the occasional blow-up nativity scene.

That last one seems just a wee bit sacrilegious, but I suppose it’s better than no nod at all to the Redeemer’s birth.

I believe Christmas decorations should stay in the basement, garage, storage unit or crawl space until the clock strikes midnight, ushering in December. I understand the Costcos and Kohls of the world needing to get a head start on the season, although fake Christmas trees on display in August seems almost vulgar.

In Europe, the commercial aspect of the holidays is celebrated on the Feast of the Epiphany, also known as the Feast of the Magi, Three Kings’ Day and Little Christmas, typically occurring Jan. 6. It does seem more logical to shower loved ones with gifts on the day set aside to commemorate the arrival at the stable in Bethlehem of Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar bearing gifts for the Baby Jesus.

While I’ve never seen myrrh or frankincense listed on any letter to Santa I intercepted before forwarding on to the North Pole, gold certainly has been.

As religion has given way to secularism across Western civilization, I suppose it’s not surprising that the focus on Christmas morning is what’s under the tree and not under the steeple. Children love presents. Is that an innate character trait or a learned trait?

To be sure, parents lament all the effort that goes into scouring stores for some or all of the items on the list in letters to Santa, staying up until 2 a.m. assembling bicycles, doll houses and the like, wrapping everything in bright and colorful paper (I’d just like to have the corner on the Scotch Tape market), and then being rustled out of bed after three hours of sleep by the little beasties clamoring to see if Santa actually showed up.

And there you witness the cacophony of squealing children, the crescendo of paper ripping, the requisite oohs and ahhs, and, of course, the occasional covetous look on one of your cherub’s face eying a sibling’s new bat.

Yes, Christmas is not for the faint of heart. Celebrating the birth of the Nazarene is an uncomplicated act of faith. Showering family and friends with gifts as evidence of your love can be an intricate and delicate balance.

Then there’s Christmas breakfast, visiting nearby friends and relatives, drinking eggnog and caroling, followed by a dinner fit for a king.

I think the Three Kings got it right: Bring a gift, pay your respects, then get on your camel and head home. Happy holidays.

Shaun Tumpane is a Laguna Woods Village resident.