The True Meaning of Christmas (Drop off)

The "True Meaning of Christmas" has changed for me as I have grown, and in large part, I have my father to thank for that. I am 12 years old now, and while that is not old by anyone's standards....except for possibly those of a 5 year old... I am now old enough to begin to leave childish things behind. Some of them anyway. As a 5 year old, Christmas was mostly about the presents. I knew I would get some, but I also knew I would be giving them. I took immeasurable delight in that part of it. The giving. I remember how it would consume me trying to think of the very best gift to give to my family members. Being 5 and not a Rockefeller, this meant I usually made my gifts. Sometimes I stubbornly insisted on doing it on my own and at other times I was happy to have my Grandma Ruth or my mother help me out. Those were times filled with a lot of love and laughter and very happy memories.

I was old enough at that point to understand I was being told that Christmas was the day Jesus was born and when we celebrated it, we were actually celebrating the "gift of Him". I will be honest. That concept did not jibe with my then understanding of birthdays and the person to be celebrated. No one had ever come to one of my birthday parties and given gifts to the other attendees, so it was a big subject of thought for me for a good part of a year.

My father patiently loved me and helped guide me through it all. Looking back on it now, it seems so obvious, but to my 5 year old brain it was anything but obvious. Daddy put up with an endless barrage of questions from me and talked with me often about why Jesus had come to Earth. That is when things began to click in my thinking. Yes, it was His birthday, but I was starting to understand, very rudimentarily, what my father meant when he had been saying it was the baby Jesus Himself who was the Father's gift to mankind and we celebrated Jesus because of the sacrifice he made for all of us on the cross.

It is very big stuff. But it is the best stuff.

That line of questioning from me to my Daddy launched a spiritual journey that we traveled together until I left for school. My father is a very devout man, but he is such a wise man. He never spoke down to me and yet he made old bible stories come to life and seem so real. He believed them so I believed them. That was blind faith, but he explained that that was the kind of faith Jesus asks of us since His sacrifice. Some things are, and always will be beyond our ability to know in this plane of existence, so faith is what we have to go on.

My Daddy believed what the Father told him to be true and I, in turn, believed my Daddy. Building blocks, but strong and critical ones. So, as a 12 year old, I still get giddy at the idea of presents. I am only human, but I am still happiest when consumed with the idea of the giving as opposed to receiving. I hope that never changes. It is not the "things" themselves given or received that are the important thing. Those are nice, of course, but I think even as a 5 year old I had my pulse on the heart of it. It is the thought and caring and effort going out to others that is the important thing... the ourtreach... the love. We are commanded to love GOD first and foremost and second to that we are to love our fellow man.

THAT is the true meaning of Christmas to me right there.

I can love the holiday decorations and treats and visits from friends and family and the carolers, but it is the gift of the Savior made flesh to save all of us that truly resonates. His example of what He gave to us is what our example is to be for each other. It seems the right way, the most kind and loving way, to see the world and the the people traveling the paths along with us.

A holiday tradition in our family is to watch old movies. I am talking like 1940's old. We love the classics. My favorite Christmas movie is 'The Bishop's Wife' with Cary Grant. Enough said right there, but there is a Christmas Eve sermon given by David Niven's character, the Bishop, that makes me cry each and every time I hear it. My father used this movie as one of his early ways to help me understand some big thoughts. The movie is old but it is funny and touching, and most importantly, it is as relevant today as it would be in any time in history. I loved it so much that I long ago committed to memory the Sermon which I shall share below.

Merry Christmas, Everyone. (WC:866 up to this point ; sermon in reducio is not my work. I just liked it and wanted to share.)

Reducio

Tonight I want to tell you the story of an empty stocking.

Once upon a midnight clear, there was a child’s cry, a blazing star hung over a stable, and wise men came with birthday gifts. We haven’t forgotten that night down the centuries. We celebrate it with stars on Christmas trees, with the sound of bells, and with gifts.

But especially with gifts. You give me a book, I give you a tie. Aunt Martha has always wanted an orange squeezer and Uncle Henry can do with a new pipe. For we forget nobody, adult or child. All the stockings are filled, all that is, except one. And we have even forgotten to hang it up. The stocking for the child born in a manger. It's his birthday we’re celebrating. Don’t let us ever forget that. Let us ask ouselves what He would wish for most and then let each put in his share - loving kindness, warm hearts, and a stretched out hand of tolerance. All the shining gifts that make peace on earth.

It was Monday and Colin was feeling really down. It was Advent and soon Christmas would arrive and the whole school had literally exploded with excitement. Colin felt the tug of excitement, but he also felt the pull of an inner darkness. He almost bumped into one of the Ravenclaw prefects as he talked about an errand kids could do at breakfast.

The meaning of Christmas? Oof. Colin had slept in today and didn't much feel like eating, so maybe some writing could take his mind off things. So he sat himself down at the farthest corner of the Slytherin table, far from anyone else and got out parchment and began to write.

L A S T C H R I S T M A S

Dear Liam,

So, it's December now. Three whole months, and I miss you so much! They want us to write about the true meaning of Christmas. What a kick in the nuts! What's Christmas going to be without you?

You remember last Christmas? Seanmamó apparated us to Mass in some church in I don't know where --- Wales some place? Poor Ciarán barfed and you told her 'less room for you and more room for our Lord!' I really should have given you a swift kick! Poor girl, that was her first apparation! And she made us all go to confession and remember how she said 'and you Colin McCoire had best make mention --- even wanting to kick yer brother is as good as kicking him!' Honestly, Liam, I don't know how that woman knows what I'm thinking!

And then we had breakfast with some of Seanmamó's relations before going down to London for the day. That was fun! Remember we got into trouble with the cousins? Between the five of us, we could just about manage to cast red sparks and lumos at each other after you called cousin Gwen a roll of butter! And they had that neat charmed creche on the mantle with the snow and bleating sheep and all?

And then we went into London for lunch with Ma and Da and even Alex and Angus and saw the sights on Diagon Alley, remember? They didn't know then. We were all still okay. Well, except Alex and Angus have always been prats. But at least they still considered me family then. I reckon that's what Christmas is about, right? Family. Love. Faith. Hope.

God, Liam! What is it supposed to mean now? You're gone these three months, and my heart is still torn open! We've got Christmas trees everywhere and the halls are well and truly decked and it's the holly and the ivy --- but, I don't even notice. I feel like one of the ghosts. Just floating through the dark days.

Some of the lads wrote out their Christmas wish lists. You'd get a kick out of this, my Ravenclaw twin! The first thought that came to my mind was: if only they could write so many inches of parchment for their assignments! I could only come up with two things, Liam.

Here. I'll copy it out for you ---

Colin's Christmas List
-- for Clair to like me
-- to see Liam again

I'm hurting Liam. My heart is broken. They took you away from me and no one here can give you back to me. Are those things too much to ask for Christmas? I reckon Christmas, for me at least, is broken. Like everything else in the world. It's all black inside. I don't know if Christmas will ever be the same again. This month is going to be torture.

I always pray for you. Pray for me, too Liam. I know you're beyond pain.

Colin

Colin pushed the parchment away from him and leaned forward, cradling his head in his arms.

He cried alone.

My dearest of the dear, my Sophie,
Today I have been asked to write something about the ‘true meaning of Christmas’. I know Christmas is supposed to be a jolly day, but I know that I will never feel so on that horrid day. For me it is torture, to have you taken away from me. Oh, my dear Sophie, why did you have to move to France? What was wrong with Hogwarts? Please, do come back someday. I miss you deeply.
I still remember the events of the horrid day. About a week before that, my mother bursted into my room. I could see tears in her eyes. She was keeping them back, being the strong woman she is. ‘Oh Cyn, I do not know how to tell you this, but my dear Cyn, Rose is leaving Britain!’ And at that moment, I didn’t care that she called me ‘Cyn’, not Cynthia. I never liked that nickname, for it sounded too much like ‘sin’. But I didn’t care. She was talking about Rosemary, your simply wonderful mother. And she told me, that you were leaving.
I couldn’t bare it. I remember that I did some horrible things. As you know, we have a large manor in Oxfordshire and there was a gargoyle on top of my roof who I called Sandy. I’ve shone him to you before, haven’t I? Well, in my burst of rage, I think I preformed some accidental magic, like last time in Oxford University. Sandy just fell off from the pedestal and landed on the ground with a horrid thump. Oh, I don’t know what happened after that. My mother told me Sandy’s okay now, but I don’t really like him that much now, because he wasn’t helpful at all. He wasn’t a protector, not at all.
And you remember that day when you were about to leave, I pushed your mother into the river? Not really I pushed, but I think it was that accidental moment again. And I’m truly sorry about that, it was just, well, it was just impulsive. I don’t know how to explain this to you, but I hope you’d understand. I just couldn’t help it. I was selfish. But I called her that, too. I called her that she only cared about her work, and not you and your friends. Tell her I choose this moment to apologise.
But Sophie! I cannot say how much I miss you. I feel tears coming. Please excuse me if the parchment is wet. I’m at Hogwarts now and everyone seems to be wanting to celebrate Christmas. I don’t. I hate it. Oh, Sophie, Sophie, Sophie. There are all sorts of decorations here and there. They seem to think that Christmas is a time to gain, to receive all sorts of gifts. I don’t think so, not at all. All the time you were gone, well, I just feel terrible. I tell people not to give me Christmas gifts, even though I want them. Deep down, I want them just as badly as you do.
I…. I don’t know what to say, Sophie, I really don’t. I still remember the first Christmas after the Christmas. And I wrote a letter to you, just like this one. And I remember that you didn’t respond. And I was horrified. That Christmas, I didn’t go down to eat the regular feast at my mother’s manor. I just sat in my bedroom and I felt the tears coming. You know, I have to wipe some away just now. And I mean, I really hate that you’d have to go, Sophie. You were my only friend before Hogwarts. And I’ve made plenty, but no one as good as you.
Every Christmas, well, I just, I just, I just dread it. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have used that word, I’m crossing it out right now. Quite horrid of me. But still, I just dread it, which is not something you should feel about Christmas! Holy holy Christmas! I dread my own depression, for I hate to be in that state. Really, Sophie, it breaks my heart that you’d have to go.
Please Sophie, please! Please do respond! I do not know why you do not. Or I guess as you say it, R.S.V.P, with a very special ‘arh’ pronunciation of ‘r’. I know that was not humourous, but I am not in the mood for humour. Really, Sophie, I think you have changed. I worry for you. Bad influence? Is it that twin sister of you, or a fellow classmate perhaps?
Sophie, I beg you, please do respond!
Your beloved,
Cynthia Marium Beaufort

The tears came just as she dropped the letter into the box. Hopefully they will deliver it after they read. It was a bit to personal, but it was true. She missed Sophie terribly. And she did not know whether she would respond or not.
Cynthia ran over to a cot and flung herself onto it. Her head hit the pillows hard but she didn’t care. She buried her head in it and cried. She sobbed, just like the day back in her mother’s manor. ‘Oh, why must this happen? Why? Why me? Why, Sophie, why?’ She did not know how long she weeped there.

Sophia Ellis smiled as she wrote the letter, she smiled quite evily.

Hello Miss. Beaufort,
It is nice to hear that you are still interested in renewing our long lost friendship. I would ask you, if you should stubbornly write to me again, to call me Miss. Ellis.
It is nice of you to praise the beautiful language of France. But perhaps next time you should make it not as insulting.
Sophia Daisy Ellis

- Kim Aoki (Sato)
- Chocolate Frogs
- Galleons or sickles or both
- Marauders map
- Invisibility Cloak

Words: 663/600
Errand Status: COMPLETED!!

Word count: 705/200
Total word count: 705/600
Mentions: @Kim Sato

Another day, another errand. Bailey only had just heard about this one, and it was something she was quite excited about.
Writing was something Bailey had always excelled at, all throughout school at home and at Hogwarts. She loved writing stories, novels, essays, and even just for school.
As soon as Bailey heard about the errand, she hopped up and grabbed her bag. Per usual, her bag contained her wand, her full water bottle, her journal, a notebook, a journal- notebook for cake and pastry designs, some miscellaneous candy and treats and snack, and writing utensils, bath muggle and magical.
Heading out of the common room, where she had been seated when she heard about the rumors from a gaggle of first and second years entering, Bailey headed to the place where she was often seen- the entrance to the Griffindor common room. Upon knocking, Bailey would ask for Kim, and once her best friend appeared, she would once again grab his hand- she had graduated from grabbing his arm to grabbing his hand- and dragged him to where the supposed errand was taking place. Kim would most likely be groggy, as it was breakfast time. Bailey had been up for house, but her best friend was NOT a morning person by any stretch of the imagination- though this could be changing slowly.
Upon arriving where the errand parts see being distributed, Bailey pulled Kim to read the instructions.
“ten inches on the meaning of Christmas- that’s not too hard, is it?” Bailey said, talking to Kim.
Walking towards breakfast, barely pulled Kim along with her.
An absent thought passed through her mind - my hold Kim’s hand probably is adding fuel to the rumors about us dating. Ha- who came up with that bizarre idea?
Arriving in the great hall for breakfast, Bailey sat down and while eating, started writing. By the end of the meal, she had quite a lengthy essay.
It read:

Reducio

What is the meaning of Christmas? That is quite a difficult and complicated but simple question to answer. While both complex and straightforward for me, for someone else it might mean something completely different.
As a Catholic, Christmas is not just about family and gifts. It is more about celebrating the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ. Spending Christmas morning in Church, celebrating the birth of Our Lord and Savior, or even going to the Midnight Mass.
I know several of my friends here, @Colin McCoire among others, are also Catholic, or at least Christian. Hopefully this year, if i am at Hogwarts, I can arrange a little get together so we can celebrate together the miraculous birth of Christ our Savior.
While celebrating Christ is a core part of my Christmas, spending time with family and friends is also important to me. Celebrating those relationships with those people, giving thanks for having them in my life, showing my appreciation for them, all of those things are important. Food and gifts are another family tradition - opening gifts in the presence of the givers, showing our happiness and appreciation for them, making food and eating it with family, making Christmas cookies and distributing them to family, friends, co workers, neighbors, to everyone we know. My family also makes time in the holiday season to go volunteer at a food bank or soup kitchen, or to find another way to serve our community. Buying gifts for the needy in our area, helping distribute food and gifts, anything we can do to help give back to our community.
With that, I am going to end this paper. Hopefully i can find ways to help give back to our community here at Hogwarts - so don't be surprised when you show up to your office and find a little something, a gift, waiting there for you.
Enjoy your holiday season, no matter what holiday you celebrate. Thank your friends and family, spend time with them.

Rolling up the parchment, Bailey got up from the table. If Kim was there, she would give him a quick hug before heading up to the Hospital Wing to turn her parchment in.
Bailey dropped it into the box, and offered a smile to whomever else was there.

Ayuna Baudelaire wasn't in the mood for breakfast this morning. She changed her pajams into short denim overalls with a fuzzy white shirt. Pulling on some knee high black socks and a pair of large sports shoes, she quickly grabed a blue purse frm her bedside table. As she walked to the Entrance Hall, the girl noticed a Ravenclaw prefect saying things about a new errand.

"Great! Yet another holiday errand to participate in and earn chocolate frogs!" the girl said to herself as she walked towards the table decorated with Christmas ornaments. A large piece of parchment hung in the middle, asking the students to write what Christmas means to them. Grabbing a piece of paper, the girl walked to the end of the Ravenclaw table and sat down. Chewing on her quill, thinking of what to write.

Dear Tom,
I know you can't read but still, I want to write to you. Three months passed since the time we waved goodbye in September. I miss you so much!

I didn't write to mother and father. They won't be any help. Mother will just ramble about new fashions and father will just burn the letters if I send them an owl.

How's everthing going back home? Did you take care of Snow? She's a bunny and you are a golden retriver, so keep in mind that it is your duty to protect Snow. How's mother and father doing? I hope father isn't drinking any more.
Twenty days until Christmas, and yet, I couldn't come home for the festival and join you to celebrate. Christmas is always a time for families to come together, no matter how far they've separated. On December 25th, everyone will join their families and become happy and warm all again.

Unfortunately, this saying about family reunion is just like bubbles, touch it just the slightest and it will pop. I know, our family can never be like this, no matter what day it is. I think you remembered our last Christmas together when Snow, you and I decorated our room with Christmas ornaments and stockings: the green one with white snowflakes for Snow, the gold one with a Christmas tree for you, and the blue one with a brown reindeer for me. I still have that stocking with me, tucked safely in my cupboard. I'm planning to hang it up for Christmas! That was the good times and I miss it so very much.

Here is my Christmas wishlist, I do hope I get some presents for Christmas!

Ayuna's Christmas Wish List

• a gray bunny
• a lot of sweets
• Nimbus 2001
• lecture books and storybooks
• enchanted satchel
• fake permission slip

Coming to think of it, Christmas is the day to have fun with people or animals or things you like. There is no reason for anyone to pout on Christmas Day. Ifb they do, then it will be other people's duty to cheer them up. Express some kindness to those who are unhappy. That is the true meaning of Chirstmas I suppose.

I miss you very very much Tom. In the meantime, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

best wishes,
Ayuna Baudelaire

Ayuna cried a bit whe writing the last part, wiping her tears away with the sleeve of her shirt.

Finally finished with her letter, the girl looked at her watch: only five minutes until break starts. Hastily putting the quill and ink into her bag, she took the paper up to the nurse's office. She would drop the piece of parchment into the box and smiled bitterly. She was going to miss her dog and bunny, and hoped to visit home soon.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The Meaning of Christmas is...

To me, December has always been a mystical time. The days in december were getting shorter. It was dark and cold and mist started to form in the evening and was still present in the morning. And even thought it is such a dark season, at Christmas there was always light around everywhere. It had been a time of secrets and anticipation. And looking back to the years even before I had known about the wizarding world, some things had happened that I could not explain. Now I am sure, that my dad had done some magic to manage the Christmas stress.
Christmas had always been a cozy time. A time in which I was't asked to go outside and play. I could read for hours and hours and my mom would make me a hot chocolate. We fired up the fireside and I sat in my dad's armchair close to it until they would force me to go to sleep.
Christmas had always been family time. Next to summer holidays, where we often traveled someplace, Christmas was one of the times, where my parents had a couple of days off together and we would spend the days making and eating cookies, playing card games or just stuck our noses into books; each one of us in a different one. But we would sit together and enjoyed the time being.
I was always looking forward to Christmas time and also this year, I am looking forward to getting home over Christmas holidays.
Christmas to me is a happy time full of my favourite memories.

Wordcount
676

To me, Christmas is a time of joy, birth, and family. Not only is it a time for the student to take a break from our studies, but it's also a time to simply relax and spend time with the ones that we love. I've found that, despite how stressful they can be at times, reunions are delightful. You can never take any family member or friend for granted, after all. You never know when they just... won't come back.

I really do hope that my brother will come home for Christmas. We've had our ups and downs, and right now we are in the middle of a down that I think might be mostly my fault. But, I've sent a letter out to him already, so maybe he'll get back to me soon and we can have a chance to make up and exchange gifts and spend time together at home or... something... I don't know.

I've messed up a lot when it came to our relationship, but I think that this winter is the winter we finally set things right. No more bars, no more evasions. I just need to be honest with him. With a fresh new layer of snow on the ground that is perfect and without blemish on it until children's feet run through it (probably mine as well, because I do love running through the snow for fun times), maybe we can even go sledding, go build a snowman, or just have a snowball fight or something. Romeo always beat me at snowball fights; he always makes snowballs that are way too big. Then again, I use snowballs that have ice packed in them, so I guess it's equal?

I think that's kind of what brotherhood is about sometimes; just smacking the crap out of one another for fun and then helping the other recover and recoup while roasting marshmallows over a contained fireplace fire.

Y'know, as a Catholic, I'm always curious as to if Jesus got into any fights as a young boy. Both divine and man, I imagine that he had to get to be a boy sometimes, right? Obviously he was sinless, but he was also a young boy. It isn't a sin to have fun with your friends or have a wrestling fight with them so long as they are alright and are okay with causing a little trouble with one another in your innocence, right? I think that Jesus must have had a good time with his family; his human foster father Joseph had family, after all. Wouldn't that be something?

But Christmas; I mean other than the whole Catholic Advent and Christmas celebrations in which we do celebrate the birth of Christ, Christmas is just a fun time. I know that I count my blessings during the time, with Maddie's house that I live in, with Figaro my bestest pretty little kitty that I love with no bounds, and of course my gift of life.

Have you guys ever seen "It's a Wonderful Life"? I watch that every year down in the magic-proof basement with a DVD player. It was a Christmas tradition with my brother when we were bouncing around Italy and England with our former family, and we kept watching it when Maddie took us in. One year even Maddie watched it with us. I think she was actually around when the movie was released, which is the craziest part. Could you imagine living for, like, a century and a half if you keep yourself in prime condition? Imagine how many Christmases you live! Would you feel as thankful or as happy during Christmas even that far into the future with the world changing around you?

Imagine living 100 Christmases... taking a picture each year...

You know what.

I think I'll try doing that from now on. I'll take a picture on Christmas every year with as much of my family as I can gather; then when I get older I can look back and see how times have changed and how my family has grown up. A practice in immortality, I suppose.

WELP! I guess I have a shopping list for Hogsmeade now!

~ π

| Date: 12/5/22 | Time: breakfast | Interactions: closed | English | Irish (Gaeilge) |
| Post Tracker 1 |
────────────────────────────────

It was Monday and I was excited that it was December. It was Advent and soon Christmas would arrive. My birthday had came and gone. I went into the great hall, ready for breakfast. Right after I plopped down at the Ravenclaw table, a prefect stood up and announced and errand. I had skipped the first errand, because I knew nothing about birds, and I wasn’t feeling the greatest.

The prefect stood up and announced that the task was to write what we thought the true meaning of Christmas was. For some chocolate frogs! Delicious!

The meaning of Christmas. Huh. That’s easy! I thought to myself. I returned to the table and pulled out my quill, ink, and sheet of parchment. 10 inches of parchment for six chocolate frogs? Why not! I smiled and got to work.

The true meaning of Christmas. The true meaning of Christmas is spending time with family and people you love. Gift giving too.

Gift giving, is a great thing, you give gifts and receive. But Christmas is not only about that. Christmas can also be a time of travel, where you explore new places, and learn new things about those you love. You can decorate your house, cookies, and a Christmas tree. I enjoy decorating my tree, making sure there are enough lights, garland, and ornaments. I love to help my mum make the delicous sweet treats, like sugar cookies and cakes. I often help make the appetizers too especially the mini tea sandwiches. I listen to Christmas music, and even play some on my Saxaphone. You can’t really play any Christmas music on a drum kit, but if you could, I would.

Family. When you’re around them, you often hate them. But when you’re away, like at Hogwarts or other places you miss them and want to be back with them. Or at least thats what happens to me. Christmas is the time where you snuggle up by the fire, with a big blanket and a large cup of steaming hot coco. Who do you want with you? Family. And friends, I guess. The close friends of course.

I am so lucky to be able to live with my family to celebrate even I never travel to visit my mums sister, who we haven’t talked to in… well way before I was born. Even my grandparents haven’t heard from her since before I was born. They say she betrayed our family by marrying a muggle. And as far as they know, I’m human, and dad… died. But he is still alive.

But Christmas isn’t about any of the family genetics. Its about spending time with the people you love, not the people who a related to you through blood. As long as they love you, spend time with them. And that is what Christmas is about.

I was about to end my writing there, but I noticed I had missed one thing. One huge thing. Jesus!

Jesus Christ. The man who died for my sins. I’m not entirely sure thats true, but I hope it is. Even if all my family and friends abandon me, Jesus would never ever do that. And I am so so so lucky to have him as the my father. He replaces the father who left me and that is why he has a whole day for him. His birthday. Jesus died for our sins, even if you don’t believe in him.

And I think you should believe in him. Actually, I know you should. Jesus died for our sins and the Bible is literally the living proof it happened.

✰ ✰ ✰

When I was done, I hurried to the hospital wing to drop of my final sheet of parchement.

────────────────────────────────

Actions: Writing

Interacting With:

Mentioning:

WC: 619

Notes: