The greatest Christmas Day of my life was in 2004. That morning, I woke up to the yelping of a tiny fluff-ball of a puppy who did not want to be confined in the kennel that sat near the Christmas tree, topped with a red bow. She was exactly what I had wished for. Now she’s old and becoming frail, and I’m lucky for every month I still have with her. I look at her, and I’m reminded of the first Christmas Day we shared.

As family gathered at my house and I held my newest four-legged family member in my arms, I caught sight of snow flurries swirling outside. It was the first time I’d seen snow in my life, and it was a glorious sight.

That was also the last year I believed in the magical traditions of Christmas. I was almost too old to write letters to Santa, decorate them with pieces of cut out wrapping paper and believe in my heart that they would make it to the North Pole, but I was eager to find any explanation to patch holes of doubt.

That was also the year the Polar Express came out, and I remember leaving the theater feeling so happy and full of wonder knowing that if I were in the movie, I would have been one of the lucky ones who could hear the ringing of the bell that only made a sound for true believers.

Christmas spirit is one of those concepts that can’t be precisely defined, but I believe it is as true a feeling as any other emotion. In children, it’s tangible. You can see the light in their eyes when they look at something they believe to be magical. You hear fast-paced footsteps racing to the Christmas tree and squeals of excitement.

We were all those children once, and it was so much easier to feel Christmas spirit then. I come across that feeling a lot less often these days. It’s not gone completely, but it’s only fleeting moments that truly make it feel like Christmas.

One of those moments this holiday season came about two weeks ago as I worked on a story about a gingerbread display at a local business. Surrounded by Christmas decorations and calming music in a cozy café setting, I felt content.

Maybe that is part of Christmas spirit — the feeling that all is right in the world, and knowing the people around you are genuinely good and kind and trying their best to bring happiness to others.

Family gatherings, holiday movies, winter clothes and dazzling displays of Christmas lights can bring that lighthearted feeling because it is based in tradition.

I’m guilty of thinking about holiday giving as an obligation, when it really should be a gift of appreciation and selflessness. I know Christmas spirit is alive and well in St. John the Baptist Parish because of the giving I see on a weekly basis.

Christmas spirit is such a pure and precious feeling. I think we should all take a moment to decompress from the stress of materialistic pressures and indulge in our favorite holiday traditions, whether it’s curling up under a blanket and sipping hot cocoa or lighting the River Parishes bonfires the night of Christmas Eve. We should also take a moment to show a gesture of kindness to someone before Christmas is over. Maybe that will help them feel the holiday spirit, too.

Brooke Robichaux is news editor for L’OBSERVATEUR. She can be reached at 985-652-9545 or brooke.robichaux@lobservateur.com.

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