Unwrapping Christmas: Heartwarming Memories to Brighten Your Holiday

Christmas is more than just a date on the calendar; it’s a treasure chest of memories that warm our hearts for years to come. From the scent of pine needles and freshly baked cookies to the sparkle of lights and laughter of loved ones, these are the moments that make the season magical. In this special collection, we share stories of joy, tradition, and the unexpected, reminding us that the true gift of Christmas lies in the memories we create together.

So grab a cup of cocoa, snuggle up by the fire, and enjoy these heartwarming stories from our readers. From funny mishaps to cherished traditions, these tales are sure to sprinkle a little extra holiday cheer into your season. After all, Christmas is better when shared!

“When I was a kid, I did chores and yard work for an allowance just like most people. One Christmas, it hadn’t snowed yet and I hadn’t finished raking the leaves. Christmas morning came and I was allowed to open my presents but not play with them until the yard and leaves were done. So, Christmas Day was spent raking leaves and watching all the neighborhood kids and my friends play with all of their toys. It was like a bad after school special. But I learned a lesson and the leaves were always done before Christmas in the following years.”
-Andy, Maryland

“I have so many wonderful memories from Christmas, so I’ll share a few special ones that either warm my heart, or make me laugh:

1. My grandmother’s house was always the hub to begin our Christmas eve activities. She had a big, thick velvet curtain – in this moss green color, that when winter came, would get hung at the bottom of her stairs to the second floor (near the living room), to keep the heat downstairs. My cousins and I used the curtain, and the adjoined entry to the house as our theater space. Every year we would have a Christmas show we would put on. It was always great fun, and as our Grandma, Aunts and Uncles, and older cousins watched – we’d put on a show. The most vivid memory was one year I got to play the role of Santa, and somehow, we goaded my dear Dad to play the part of my reindeer… did I mention we didn’t really have too much for costumes. So my dad crawled around on the floor in his jeans and button down shirt, with me “Santa” (with a cotton ball beard) on his back. Once we’d depart Gram’s house, we’d head to my Uncle Walt and Aunt Bev’s house to celebrate with the other side of the family – we’d sing lots of songs together and everyone had lots of laughs and smiles as we unwrapped presents and enjoyed being together… once we’d get home I’d rush right upstairs to bed so Santa wouldn’t skip our house.
   
2. My grandmother’s friend Imogen lived just down the street, and one winter after a big snowstorm, my cousin Mary and I decided to do a good deed by shoveling her sidewalk. Mary, who’s six years older than me, always seemed tough as nails to my 8-year-old self. At the time, she was about 14, and I admired her resilience. Armed with a few shovels – mine was a metal square shovel, we set off from the driveway toward Imogen’s house. Not wanting to drag the shovel behind me, I slung it over my shoulder—completely unaware that Mary was right behind me. The shovel caught her squarely in the head. To my surprise, Mary cried, and not just a little. It was in that moment I realized she wasn’t as unbreakable as I had believed. We still laugh about that day.”
   -Jessica, Virginia

1. A couple days before Christmas, one of our young granddaughters seemed sad. She told me she had no gift for her mom yet. “Nana and Papa will take you shopping. What do you have in mind?” She had no idea, but said it had to be special and beautiful like my mom! It wasn’t her words but the love in her voice and eyes that made us search for hours until she found it! The red, heart shaped sparkly pillow was exactly how she wanted to express her love!
   
2. It Takes a Village. Every Halloween night, our octogenarian neighbor would call to ask how many children would I be bringing Christmas caroling this year. I would give her my best guess since I really had no idea almost a month away. “Miss Martha” wanted to be sure she saved enough treat bags for all the carolers because she knew there were angels among them; the same neighborhood angels that would show up to shovel snow or rake leaves for her.
   -Cheryl, New Jersey

1. I still watch “It’s A Wonderful Life” every Christmas Eve.
   
2. My most interesting Christmas memory might be when I was five, and learned Santa had helpers. One particular Christmas Eve I got food poisoning and ran into the bathroom to throw up, at the same moment my parents (Santa’s helpers) were sneaking presents into the living room to put under the tree.
   -Keith, Chicago

When we were little, our house used to be carpeted, so “Santa” (aka Santa’s helper – my Dad) would dip his snow boots in confectioner’s sugar and leave footprints in the hallway and in front of our bedroom doors to make sure we were “sleeping.” It was our favorite thing to wake up to on Christmas morning and now one of my most special memories of my Dad! 
-Sydney, Philadelphia

My most treasured Christmas memory is the Christmas that Santa gave me a two wheel bike… no more hand-me-downs. Dad had it hidden in Geib’s gas station garage ’til Christmas. They had it hoisted up to the ceiling so I was sure not to see it because dad used to take me with him when he’d be at Geib’s. Christmas morning came and we all were waiting at the top of the stairs to all go downstairs together. Down we go and there is a purple two-wheeler. I was so excited I ran back upstairs, got dressed and out the door I went with my new bike. It was a cold morning, but no snow. I rode it up to, what was then, the high school and while riding it around the school I hit a patch of ice and down I went. I had to walk my bike home because I (not knowing) had chipped a bone in my ankle. Oh my way home walking my bike a BIG dog ran across the street barking and growling at me. I was scared to death and so thankful he finally let me continue on home. I wasn’t able to ride my new bike for about two weeks after that.
– Sue, New York

We always had (and still do) have Santa show up Christmas Eve. We would hear the bells jingling and Santa would slowly come out and leave stockings for all the kids there (we have always had a get together of family and friends). The kids had all scrambled not to be seen. After he had the milk and cookies he left. We started when my girls were young about 42 years ago and continues for the grands and great grands. The best memory.
-Verda, West Virginia

Favorite memories strike me as being similar to conversations about who is the “greatest of all time (GOAT).” Increasingly, I find myself thinking that instead of comparing athletes from
different eras (who is better—Babe Ruth or Shohei Ohtani ?), it makes more sense to think
along the lines of who is the best within a given era. The games themselves change
dramatically from one era to another—different rules, different types of schedules, etc. This
accounts for me thinking about my Christmas memories from different periods along the path
of life’s journey.

1. Youngster
I am the oldest of five children. However, in 1959 (in the fourth grade), there were only four of
us. As is the case for countless other kids, I simply could not go to sleep. Around 4:00 am
(according to the telling of the story by my parents), I conned my sister (six at the time) and
brother (age five at the time)—the fourth child an infant at the time—to sneak into the living
room to see what Santa Claus had left us. Those were always items unwrapped, so there was a sneak peek at things. When we were allowed to come into the room (6:00 am), it was pure joy for the three of us. The football I wanted desperately was right there. More important, that
was the year my maternal grandmother gave me my first Bible (complete with a dedication
from her). I still have that Bible. Periodically, I will use it for my daily devotions. It always
brings up the memory of the best role model anyone could ever have for living a faith-driven
life. Each time, it makes me smile and remember the Christmas that included my first memory
of how important a real faith is to guiding our path forward. Thanks, Grandma.

2. Adolescent
By the time I was in high school, I earned the money spent on Christmas gifts. My freshman
year of high school also marked the first time I pursued my approach of shopping on Christmas Eve. When the gifts were opened on Christmas Morning, it became crystal clear why there is a deep truth to the concept “it is better to give than to receive.” I honestly do not remember the gifts received that year. What I was able to give to others remains as clear as if it happened two days ago. Giving with joy to others and shopping on Christmas Eve, 1964. Great memories.

3. Young Adult
On December 18, 1982, we had our first child, Rebecca. Earlier that year, we had purchased
our first home, a modest two-bedroom townhouse in Old Town Alexandria in Virginia (just
outside Washington, D.C.). My parents came to be with us that year. The only place for them
to sleep was on a roll out couch. On Christmas Morning, as we opened our presents and
thought about all our blessings, starting with a healthy new born girl, I apologized to my
parents for there not being any other space for them to sleep. My now 97-year old Mother was holding Rebecca in her arms. Her response to me? “Honey, anytime your Dad or I get the
chance to celebrate Christmas with our children and grandchildren, we are going to take
advantage of the invitation, even if that means sleeping in the car.” Truly, we all felt humbled
and blessed by the lives we were given the chance to live.

4. Four Kids Into Things
We were living in North Arlington, Virginia. My second son, and third of four children, was in
the second grade. He had been assigned the task of putting on paper any traditions his family had for the holidays. We still have the original of that treatise. He wrote that he did not know where I had come up with this “amazing tradition.” This consisted of going to the early service at church (5:00 pm) where “it usually a sin to talk, but not this time.” That was followed by going to our favorite Italian restaurant where “the food is very good and real expensive.” Then, we drove through the area that had the best Christmas lights, all of us telling the other which house was best. The night was capped off by “then Dad makes us watch this really old movie. He always cries. Sometimes, we do too.” The movie in question being It’s a Wonderful Life (with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed). Christmas 1994. What a great memory.

5. Being Grandpa
As the saying goes, the years go by in a hurry. Now, the best memory (or memories) center on one thing—being with family during the holidays. Worshiping together. Seeing the pure joy in the eyes of our grandchildren. To see them as excited about the gifts they give to us as they are about anything given to them is what the love of the season is all about. One of the pastors who inspired me greatly on my faith journey, Beth Goss, quoted her grandfather, also a Presbyterian minister (as her father had been). Her grandfather said: “Every new birth is God’s verdict that mankind is worth saving.” Isn’t that the real meaning of Christmas? So, each year that my wife of 43 years and I are given the blessing of celebrating this holiday of hope with our family will continue to be the best memory. Here is to 2024, even if we have not yet celebrated it.
-Bill, North Carolina

As we wrap up this heartwarming journey through Christmases past, one thing is abundantly clear: the magic of the season is woven into the moments we share, the lessons we learn, and the memories we carry forward. From the innocence of childhood wonder to the wisdom of age, these stories remind us that the true gift of Christmas is not found under the tree but in the love, laughter, and togetherness that define this special time of year. May your holiday season be filled with moments worth cherishing and memories worth sharing for years to come.

Merry Christmas!