Sewing in the time of COVID-19 – Week 41
Many of you already know that today is Boxing Day – a day-after-Christmas holiday that started out as a day to give to the poor, and has evolved into a shopping day (similar to Black Friday in the US). It is observed in the UK, and countries that used to be part of the British Empire.
It is also the day that Santa Claus takes a well-earned long Winter nap after his trip around the globe, distributing toys to children. Not to mention Santa’s helpers and Mrs. Claus who stay up til 3 am wrapping gifts and stuffing stockings. (*wink*)
Although the holiday season was different this year, the most important part was thrown into sharp relief: that Love and Family are the bottom line for how we spend Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and the Winter Solstice…depending on what traditions you observe. There was an article in the New York Times today about the Jewish tradition of going out for Chinese food on Christmas Day, because the restaurants in Chinatown were open but nobody else was there on the holiday!
I remember doing this on Christmas Day when I lived in Hong Kong (and New York) because there were so many Jewish friends in the garment and textile industries there, and we’d go out for 15 course lavish holiday dinner parties because we were far from home and without family.
Last night after everyone went to bed, I stayed up and watched 2 Christmas re-runs of Call the Midwife on PBS. One was about the Chinese orphans from Hong Kong, and the other one was about the pregnant mom who couldn’t go into labor until she had talked to the midwives about all the other children she had lost before birth…who were all living in her heart as her children. Both of those Christmas episodes made me cry like a baby because they hit so close to home.
It was good to have a good weeping session at the end of this stressful year, just to have a therapeutic cleansing sob to wash the sadness out of my heart so I can prepare for the new year. Today I found myself full of creative energy and had a profound brainstorming session. I invite you to think about what needs to be cleared out this week, so we can all greet the New Year together with hope and creative defiance a week from now.
with Hope for the Future,
Luana and Paul
