Posted December 17, 2023 – Narrated by Carmen
“Every traveler has a home of his own,
and he learns to appreciate it the more from his wandering.”
Pitching a tent on Christmas Eve under the stars is an old tradition we picked up from a family of refugees.
You’ve heard the story.
In a time of war and occupation – a man and his pregnant wife – are forced to travel long-distance on foot to register. Arriving to their destination the woman falls into labor and every room in the city is occupied. Giving birth in the street is not an option because cars haven’t been invented yet. Seeing their distress, a lovely hotel manager says, “Don’t worry, be happy” and directs the refugees to a nearby stable.
There, the woman delivers a boy. As they count the child’s fingers and toes, a caravan of rich Snowbirds arrive with beaucoup provisions and wampum from afar.
Then, from outta nowhere, a big ol’ fais do do starts up. A shepherd serves up a steaming-hot kosher gumbo from the campfire. It’s all ça c’est bon until word arrives about the law being on the way to raid the camp. So, the refugees skedaddle across the border and live in the shadows as “illegals” until they can return home.
It’s an old story we see playing out every day as people are caught up or drawn into miserable situations. But dwelling on the socio-political details behind the holy-family’s hardships – and without looking further than the obvious religious message – misses the key point which is: Eventually, everything’s gonna be alright.
The same for Hanukkah. With a backstory of occupation, war, attacks on free speech and a devastating massacre – a mundane kitchen ingredient comes to the rescue, assuring the people that Darkness is defeated, there is nothing to fear and, eventually, all will be better than good.
The Celebration
The expectation of brighter days ahead is good enough reason to break out the Trailer Christmas box every year and begin a month-long celebration.
The Tree
When the thanksgiving dishes are done we strive to fulfill the pagan evergreen requirement. Long ago, we settled on a live, size-appropriate Rosemary “Tree.”
The Food
The Rosemary tree’s pleasant fragrance is a comfort, especially when we bring it inside on cold, stormy nights. Bonus tip: It’s edible! Fragrant “boughs” from our little tree grace several of our favorite holiday treats.
Our Living in Beauty Christmas isn’t a laissez-faire hamburgers-and-beer escape from holiday crowds and over-consumption (though we heartily endorse that concept). Even though we travel lightly, we’re fiercely traditional. It wouldn’t be Christmas without Bagna Cauda and roasted roots on Christmas Eve,
and satsuma cake for Christmas Day breakfast,
Jim’s grilled Turkey Cutlets for Christmas dinner,
a homemade loaf or two of pompe à l’huile, a French Christmas tradition from Provence,
and piles and piles of Rosette Cookies made exactly how Aunt Lilly from Germany taught me.
Food, in its subtle way, is a whispered prayer for peace.
“In the mundane, nothing is sacred.
In sacredness, nothing is mundane.”
Wherever we find ourselves at Christmastime…
touring the annual Christmas light displays,
or, celebrating with family …
and dear friends …
attending a performance of A Christmas Carol,
making homemade cookie deliveries …
or all alone, in a place we’ve never been – strangers in a strange land – quietly preparing a no-leftovers Holiday Feast-For-Two …
we participate in the universal Truth that one pure heart can relieve a world of suffering and oppression, and that a small coterie of inspired rich people can fill every empty stomach, worldwide.
We didn’t have to back out of our driveway and live on the road for eight years to hear Heaven and Nature sing, but we’re glad we did.
And every Christmas, from our home-camp in some random corner of the earth …
to your home-camp, wherever it may be,
we wish you a joyous holiday season,
an outstanding New Year,
and Peace on Earth, eventually.
Merry Christmas!
And God bless us every one!
You can see our exact route on this map.
*photos in this post (unless otherwise noted) were taken and copyrighted by Living In Beauty.
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