Kathy teaches at an parochial elementary school in Jacksonville, Florida. She spent her youth in the Methodist tradition, but later choose to become an Episcopalian and is now a leader in the formation of a new Episcopal church in Jacksonville. Kathy will tell you that the joys of her life are her two grandchildren.

As an educator, I’ve learned that the majority of people are visual learners. But, as I instruct my students in writing descriptive paragraphs, I stress the importance of including all the senses. Indeed, the older we become, the more we realize how certain sounds, smells, tastes, and touch are “automatic buttons” to our memories. These senses evoke feelings and emotions that are deeply embedded, for better or worse, into our brains forever.

Christmas is especially a time when our associations with certain smells immediately take us back to previous celebrations of Christmas. Who doesn’t yearn in December for the smell of the newly-cut trees ready for trimming? In particular to me, this fragrance reminds me of our annual family’s trip to select a Christmas tree, something the entire family always did together. Then, once the tree had been taken home, secured in a stand, and placed in an a pre-determined spot by a living room window, my mother and I - being the “height-challenged” part of the foursome – discreetly disappeared before my sister and dad began their annual “discussions” on how to properly place the string of lights on it.

When Mama and I no longer heard any voices, we knew it was time for us to take over our respective job of decorating the tree with ornaments. Although it was in the living room away from the television, our Christmas tree was never abandoned during the season. We enjoyed many happy hours together simply appreciating its beauty, along with singing carols and hanging stockings.

Other smells I especially remember are the cake-baking evenings. My sister and I were taught by the old school of making cakes completely from scratch. At first, we were simply the gatherers of ingredients, then we were the ones to sift and level these amounts, and finally the years came when we were allowed to go into the kitchen alone, if we desired, and make a cake all on our own.

Of course, we NEVER found ourselves alone when the frosting portion of the process began. There were always plenty of helpers available to taste the tidbits that remained on the electric mixer’s beaters. Then, on Christmas Day there were naturally the last-minute preparations for dinner. The strong scent of onions and sage for the cornbread dressing, and the aroma of delicious oranges for ambrosia, filled the air.

The chill that hit our faces during the brisk evenings following Thanksgiving signaled the time for my sister and me to begin Christmas shopping for our parents. Enviably, year after year as though orchestrated, the first family friend we encountered on our rounds was a favorite Jewish friend, to whom we cheerfully wished a very Merry Christmas. Just as we passed him every year, we realized our mistake, but I believe our friend actually treasured these encounters as one could see his broad smile and twinkle of the eye as he turned the corner.

Of course, there are also the visual reminders of Christmas. The four of us were in complete agreement about the pleasure of driving around our small town to view the beautiful decorations – the blurred lights of inside Christmas trees, simple candles aflame in the windows, and scenes placed on rooftops. Hopefully, this is a tradition not completely lost to the television and internet, and children are still able to appreciate this magical, almost mystical, experience.

Additionally, our church always had a live Nativity scene the last nights before Christmas, and this was always a touching reminder of the season’s true meaning to the entire community.

The list of remembrances could go on and on in my heart and mind, but I continue to wonder why all these associations, evoked by our senses, are important to us as humans? Do these memories still hold significances beyond fondly remembering those with whom they were shared? I believe that God, always wanting to educate us about his love, begins these lessons with baby steps. God introduces us to his love first through other human beings – a way to which we can readily relate – until we are finally capable of recognizing, hearing, and hopefully responding appropriately. And, what better time to hear God’s voice than through all the senses and the experience of Christmas?

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