The Sign of Christmas

Hello, beautiful people on the internet!  When I think of Christmas festivities, there are a few that come to mind.  Even though I am not partaking in hardly any events this year, due to COVID, I thought I would take this opportunity to tell you what makes Christmas special for all our friends and family.  This week I am talking about the Candle Lighting that takes place in a nearby village.

The first weekend in December was always a joy for us.  Our family always went to a local candle lighting ceremony, they had one for the first three Saturdays in December.  Ever since I was young we would all get bundled up tightly, listen to a Christmas story and Christmas music by a local group.  At the end, one candle would be lit and the light would be passed on, and we would light each other’s candles, while we sang Silent Night. Afterwards, we went to Grandma and Grandpa’s house for a Christmas party, and we would never know who would show up. We would eat, we would sing, we would celebrate. We just all had a jolly good time.  

I signed Silent Night in sign language for this event for many years.  It came about when I was at my sign language group, full of amazing (but slightly crazy) people who were either deaf, hard of hearing, or just wanted to learn to use sign language (like me).  I went to this group from the time I was three of four, to when it disbanded when I was in 7th grade.  These people watched me grow up, and I can not say enough good things about them.  In third grade, they needed someone to sign silent night at the last candle lighting, and all of the adults kind of shrugged it off.  We all have already gone that year, and somehow I was shoved into my school’s choir that night.  But I still volunteered.  I, being 9 years old, signed for a Christmas tradition for our community, and I loved it!

I then signed for the candle lighting ceremony every year until the 11th grade.  The last two years I did it, I was able to sign with a dear friend of mine, who knew me before I was born.  She also had the privilege to work with my mom.  She was one of the people who taught me how to sign when I was little.  Needless to say, we were both in tears.

The absolute neatest thing about the candle lighting is when I was signing I saw the flame of the candles being passed from person to person.  You could see the audience just light up in their winter coats, and a smile light up their faces as you see the joy of Christmas beaming into their hearts.

I signed for a church’s Christmas program for years too.  At my old church, they had a big Christmas program, in which I signed a song from when I was 5 up until I left that church.  They put me on this great big bar stool, which I was terrified that I would fall off of, and my fingers, though small, moved to speak a whole new language.  

I also signed for my school’s Christmas program in the fifth grade.  I was so excited!  I contacted my friend, and I got to work with her perfecting every single song.  Unfortunately, I got very sick that week.  I begged and begged to go, even though I was too sick to walk up the flight of steps to get to the gym.  I made my dad carry me up the steps to sign.  I was so proud of myself, even though I could do so much better if I was well!  I ended up having to stay home the rest of the week and was sick part of Christmas break too.  I could write a book about what went on in that school, and I think all who witnessed the craziness could too. 

Needless to say, sign language was a major part of Christmas growing up for me.  I still know bits and pieces, I could have a conversation with someone who needs to use it.  Every once in a while I find myself signing to myself, or I can’t find the word but I know the sign.  Sometimes I would sign “Thank you” instead of say it.  I forget most of it, and my hands can barely play the piano anymore.  But I will never forget the blissfulness of seeing other people’s faces light up as I sign “Silent Night” at a candle lighting.

Have a very Merry Christmas!