papa001

It’s a Christmas tradition in my family started so long ago I cannot remember when it began. My Papa, my grandfather on my mother’s side, used to greet everyone with “Christmas Eve Gift!” on Christmas Eve and only on Christmas Eve. I do not know why he did it I just know he did. And of course since he did it year after year others picked up on it and started greeting Papa and others too with “Christmas Eve Gift!” It became a Christmas contest. You see once you are “gifted” by someone you cannot in turn gift them. So, the tradition is to “gift” someone first before they “gift” you.

It used to be that we would greet each other with this “gift” whenever we saw each other in person on Christmas Eve. It would happen at the door of the family home that was hosting Christmas Eve. Or it could happen at the car as you were unpacking it depending on if it was one of us grandchildren trying to catch the adults off guard. At some point the “gifting” moved to telephone calls on Christmas Eve, the first contact we had with family members on that day. My family members would answer their phone “Christmas Eve Gift!” just to make sure that they got to “gift” a family member before they were “gifted” themselves. Of course there was the occasional non-family member who got blessed with a “Christmas Eve Gift!” when calling one of my family members. Lucky them!

With the developments in technology and the prevalence of texting now some of my family members “gift” each other through text. I am not so sure that this counts as you are not really “connecting” with that family member in the moment. Of course, that could just be me looking at a situation where it is becoming more difficult to be the “giftee” instead of the “gifted” as others are better texters than I.

Already this morning I have been “gifted” by three of my wonderful family in three different ways. My wife “gifted” me very, very early as we were both in varying stages of sleeplessness. She truly caught me by surprise as she grinned. My sister responded to a text I sent her with a “Christmas Eve Gift!” in the reply. Again, caught by surprise because I had texted her, not called her. And when I called my mom, blocking my phone number from her display so she would not know who was calling, she greeted me with an “I guess I should say ‘Christmas Eve Gift!’” guessing that it was a family member. I fully intended to “gift” my mother but her Christmas Eve instincts took over and she made sure to greet the unknown caller with the “gift.”

Shortly after the phone call with my mom I found myself running a few errands. I decided that I would go through the Starbucks drive through and pick up a small coffee to warm up on this chilly morning. I do not know why the thought came to me while I was in line but it had never come to mind before. Maybe it is because I have been thinking of my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who have already passed away. Maybe it is because I have been thinking of previous Christmas holidays when I would be at houses filled with family for Christmas Eve and Christmas. Or maybe it was because I had already been bested, I mean blessed, three times by my family today. Whatever the reason I found myself in a conversation with the Starbucks team member at the window as I readied to pay for my Caramel Brûlée Latte.

“Did the person behind me order a drink or two?” I asked. “Yes. He ordered a White Chocolate Mocha.” was the reply. “Well,” I said, “Add his drink to my bill. Just make sure that when you tell him it is paid for you say ‘Christmas Eve Gift!’” I told her. “Wow – of course! That’s really nice.” she said.

“Christmas Eve Gift” Papa. “Christmas Eve Gift” Grammy. Thank you for your gifts of love and memories that you gave to use and that will continue to bless us all.