Christmas might be the worst time of year to be yearning for pregnancy. I know this to be true because, many moons ago, my husband and I spent four long years in the trenches of infertility treatment.
With its emphasis on a virgin birth, a newborn babe and the sleepy-eyed tots of the world waking up to Santa’s surprises, Christmas is full of reminders of children — or one’s lack thereof. And yet, amid one of those bleak midwinters, a spark of joy emerged: my husband and I invented a silly car-ride game.
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Those of a certain generation will remember the school bus pastime of spotting a Volkswagen Beetle and yelling “Punch buggy yellow, no punch backs!” while thumping another kid in the arm. This was our version of the same — minus the bruises.
Whenever a car went by with a Christmas tree strapped to its roof, whoever saw it first would erupt into a weird forced cackle: hee-hee-HEE-hee-HEE! Real giggles would follow, along with a few blessed moments of feeling okay again. It was nothing brilliant, but it got us through the season.
Years later, I was in a pop-up Christmas shop on Toronto’s Danforth Avenue when I spotted the perfect ornament: a shiny red car with a tree strapped to its roof. I bought it and tucked it into my husband’s stocking on Christmas Eve. Today, it’s still my favourite ornament on our tree.
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- The Christmas my dad almost burned the church down
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Christmas tree ornaments are like little stories you can hold in your hand. A tree full of them can tell you a lot about a person or family. Sure, some trees may only reveal a favourite colour scheme, but for those of us with more eclectic sensibilities, tree decor is an extension of ourselves.
Take a close look at our tree, and you’ll learn where we’ve travelled, what hobbies we enjoy, who we cheer for on the field and the ice. You’ll find some of our family history in the artisanal gifts from grandmothers and the popsicle-stick creations of kids. Nearly every ornament carries a special meaning or a cherished memory.
Guessing that others feel just as sentimental about their Christmas ornaments, we asked 14 well-known Canadians and the Broadview team, to tell us about their favourites. We are delighted to present 24 heartfelt responses in our free digital Advent Calendar. From precious family heirlooms to kid crafts to oddball sci-fi characters, our contributors are full of holiday surprises.
This Christmas, when I unwrap the tissue paper from our little red car with a tree on its roof, I’ll think about the flashes of joy that carry us through difficult times. Because isn’t that what the Christmas story is all about? In the depths of night, a brilliant star guides the magi. A broken and fearful world receives the birth of a messiah. A good king trudges through snow and howling winds to bring food to a peasant. The birds have fled, but Gitchi Manitou sends angel choirs instead.
And in my living room, I’ll hang a little red car from a spruce bough. Then, just to get a laugh and an eyeroll from our now teenage son, I’ll let out a weird, forced cackle.
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Jocelyn Bell is the editor and publisher of Broadview.
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