Spending Christmas in California

Christmas in California is something that people in colder climates can't imagine. In some parts of the country the colorful Christmas lights reflect off of pristine snow. The sounds of the snow-plow accompany the jingle of the sleigh bells in the crisp night air. In California we are treated to the sounds of the birds chirping happily in the sunshine and the echo of high volume car speakers booming as cars cruise through the labyrinth of freeways.. We have our own unique ways of celebrating the Holidays here in California, despite the differences in climate and environment, Christmas in California is still celebrated in traditional ways for most residents of the "Golden State".

We have many different types of topography here in California. We celebrate our diversity. One can visit the mountains, where a person can lounge in front of a roaring fire while drinking hot chocolate after skiing a snowy mountain trail in the morning, and by evening, don a wet-suit and try to catch a wave. We have cactus in the desert and pine trees in the mountains. There is nothing quite as cheery on a mid December's night as seeing a cactus decorated for Christmas, complete with flashing neon colored- lights. In Southern California you may see snow but it is usually off in the distance visible on the tops of our local San Bernadino Mountains on a particularly clear day. In most cases when you see snow in neighborhood yards it is usually the artificial kind that can be rolled up and thrown away after Christmas.

Christmas is celebrated all over the world in many different ways. Christmas in Australia comes in the midst of their summer as is the case in all of the countries on the other side of the equator. Instead of shoveling snow they surf. They don't wear hats and gloves when they chose to go Christmas caroling, instead they wear tank tops, shorts and sandals. Here in California it usually is a bit too cold for tank tops, though there are many people who still walk around in short sleeved shirts and shorts. In the evenings especially in the winter Californians sometimes wear jackets , scarves and occasionally gloves too. We are in the midst of our winter and on most days, even Christmas day, you can walk along the beach and watch the surfers "shoot the curl".

We buy and decorate different types of pine trees, trucked in from Washington or Oregon, though usually by Christmas Day the trees are dried out and brown. I do remember one year in an exceptionally windy month when my good friend found and decorated a tumble-weed with colored lights and placed it in the center of her living room as her version of a Christmas tree.

Christmas dinner is as unique to each family in California just as it is through-out the world. We buy and cook turkey, ham and all of the trimmings and some of us make home-made tamales both traditional and sweet. Here in California we do however have the option of heading off to the beach and cooking hot dogs and marshmallows over a bon-fire on the beach, for our Holiday dinner if we so choose.

Some Southern California residents visit Disneyland after the gifts have been opened and all of the wrapping paper has been thrown away. Yes, Disneyland is open 365 days a year. We also have a wide variety of different businesses who because of religious and cultural differences choose to remain open on Christmas day/ So if you prefer a manicure or a bit of shopping instead of attending those boring family get togethers, here in California you can.

There are numerous public parks where families gather to eat their meal on a picnic table and when the meal is finished the children gather around to break a colorful pinata which is made from cardboard and brightly colored paper in the shape of a Santa Claus or a snowman. The children take turns trying to break the pinata with a long pole. When the pinata is broken the children gather up various toys, fruits and candies that were placed inside.

Christmas is celebrated in California just as it is celebrated throughout many parts of the world. Homes are decorated, presents are wrapped and distributed and meals are shared. More important, family bonds are strengthened and memories are made. Though on occasion the air conditioner may be turned on, because of an extremely warm day, Christmas in California is still one of the most festive, widely celebrated days of the year. I have often thought of the climate of the part of Israel where Jesus was born and realize that it was very similar to California's. Whether you chose to snowboard or surf, build snowmen or sandmen, we all remain united in our wonder and joy, as we celebrate the birth of that Babe born in a manger one Christmas night some two thousand years ago.