Traditions

I didn't know moving across a giant lake that I would find a new Christmas tradition that I've never even heard of.  Apparently here in WI, families get kids excited about Santa Claus coming with stocking gifts from St. Nick.  I was confused because I thought the 2 were one in the same.  I asked my husband and he said that Santa is a fictional character based on the real Saint Nicholas.  Ok, so I was kind of right.  But then there's another family I work with who does a tradition from Holland where Bell Snickels leaves little treats/toys in kids' shoes to get them excited about Christmas.  I also learned from Wikipedia that these festivals relate to the Feast of St. Nicholas on December 6.  I felt silly this week when I had no idea what people were talking about, why celebrate St. Nicholas?  Isn't Christmas about Jesus' birth?
I guess that's what people celebrate when they don't know Christ.  It kind of made me sad in a way, that the families I work with are missing out on the joy of the real meaning of Christmas.  It's a strange atmosphere to work in, especially coming from a non-Christian preschool/day care where most of my co-workers were Christians.  I don't know why it's bothering me so much this year, when I knew in years past the kids/families I worked with weren't in any way religious at all.  Maybe it's because I am in my clients' homes, I see there traditions and how they interact as a family; or maybe it's because I am trying to show Christ's presence in my life without being too offensive to those who just don't care to hear about him.
This also makes me grateful to have Christmas traditions that center around Christ's birth.  To have Him in my life and know that I won't face an eternity of torture, but one in paradise.  My family traditions included Santa, but my parents focused on Christ as well.  We left cookies and milk, and carrots for the "reindeer;" we woke up to presents on Christmas morning, but we also heard the story of Jesus' birth.  We did the advent calendar too, and now that I'm older I want my kids' Christmas to focus on the real reason.  Yes, I want them to enjoy presents, to even believe in Santa, but to make certain that they know Jesus Christ was born on Christmas day.
We don't have any present traditions, as Steve and I have only been married for 3 years, living away from our families and don't have any kids yet.  But one day we will, and I am looking forward to the joy that will come when we read the story in Luke and bake cookies and wake up really early to celebrate a little baby as well as open presents that "magically" appeared.

I don't know why I felt the need to write all of this, but it's been on my mind lately.  Traditions...it's the time of year when we talk the most about them, and yet all of mine seem to have slipped away with time.  I'm getting older, I'm not a child or a teen anymore...soon I may even have a child of my own and I seriously cannot wait to start new traditions with our family.  In God's time of course...