Christmas Memories

    We all have memories of Christmas Past, often of how treasured customs began.
    One year, my in-laws were coming to our house on Christmas Eve, and I was making a cake to have as refreshment after Santa left. My son Bruce was 3, and underfoot of course, with a constant stream of chatter. 
    Suddenly he asked, “Is that Jesus’ birthday cake you‘re making?”
Taken aback for a moment, I thought, “What a good idea”, and told him “yes”.
    “Are you going to put candles on it?” he asked, his big brown eyes dancing.
    “Of course!” I told him, hoping I had some left over somewhere in the house. I didn’t, but found a seven inch taper in a drawer. 
    “That’s a good one!” he chortled,  “It has to be special for Jesus, huh, Mommy” 
    This kid was way ahead of me.  When I found it, I was all set to try to explain why it was okay to use instead of a ‘real’ birthday candle.
    I realized this was a very good way to re-tell the story of the Real Christmas every year, and so was born our Christmas custom of Jesus’ Birthday Cake. And, yes, we did sing Happy Birthday Dear Jesus”. Of course!  He is the Birthday Boy on that day!
    The next year we added small figures of Jesus in the manger, Mary, Joseph, and an angel. The taper was beside the angel, and was a symbol of the Star.   Later, the Magi were added, on the table ‘walking’ toward the Star.
    The original figures are continuing the custom for granddaughter Kyla, and her two little girls;  my grandson, Sean,  has his own set to put on the cake for his three little boys.
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