Christmas Eve has
always held its magic for me for my family always celebrated Christmas then
with the opening of gifts and a then we ate sumptuous dinner. The next day on
Christmas was a day spent together and one of reminiscing along with relatives
that would stop by.
But in 1980 a woman
that lived up the street from me named Chris, called me and said she had an
idea and asked if I’d participate. Her idea was for everyone in the
neighborhood to place white bakery bags with sand in them on each side of their
driveways and put a lit candle inside but just on Christmas Eve. She asked if I
would call my nearby neighbors and I gladly said I would; she called the rest
and the rest involved three streets. That phone call came three weeks before
Christmas and gave us all time to purchase bakery bags, sand and candles. None
of it was costly.
All of us lived close
to a hardware store, a bakery and many places to buy small candles. Everyone I
called thought it was a great idea and looking back, everyone that Chris called
thought so as well.
The day before
Christmas Eve that year, came a cold snap and it was so cold outside that it
made anyone’s teeth shake. The supplies for the luminaries were ready at my house
and the next night it was bone chilling. I will never forget going outside with
my then-husband, my two young sons and the supplies and of course, they wanted
to put sand in each white bakery bag and so it was back in the house to
retrieve two huge spoons.
Sand was shakily put
in each white bakery bag by small gloved hands, while my then-husband and I
placed a small white lit candle inside each bag. Our driveway was illuminated
on both sides and it was one glorious sight.
But even more
glorious was to look up the street about half an hour later and see nothing but
glowing white bags in rows of two as far as you could see. As no one then had
very few outside lights, it made our neighborhood aglow. Chris’ idea had worked
its magic for it made all of us feel connected all the more: The lit bags shone
bright and created a feeling of peace and love.
Every year
thereafter, we took Chris’ idea and lined our driveways with the sand filled
bakery bags and lit candles. With the advent of some young couples moving away
and new neighbors moving in, the idea slowly faded into near oblivion but Chris
still did it as did other neighbors including me. And then like all good
things, it came to an end sadly.
Looking back, her
idea was not costly but the feeling those lit bags gave out was one of oneness
and I miss it. The neighborhood changed and changed, Chris passed away and now
no one does it. Peace and love can come from small gestures and come this
Christmas Eve, rest assured I will line my driveway, as I did in the past, while hoping others do the same.
One idea can make
things magical as Chris’ did and it’s time to carry on her tradition all over
again. She gave us much that Christmas Eve and it will never be forgotten and I
owe her.
Sherry Hill
Published today in my local paper
