I know I tell this story every year, but it is one of my favorite Christmas rituals. So here it is again.
In 1971, my mother bought a sterling silver Christmas cross. It was the premiere of a new series by Reed & Barton, an authentic reproduction of a cross designed by Gallicus in Prague in the 16th century.
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| Galicia cross -- the first of the series |
My mother loved that little cross. It came wrapped in a velvet bag, with a brochure outlining the history of the design. It was elegant, historical and it looked great on the Christmas tree.
Every year, she ordered the new edition of the cross. We were always excited to see the beautiful new designs, and to read about their origins. In time she had so many that she hung them on their own small Christmas tree.
When mom died, my brother Andrew and I decided to split up the crosses. Mom had 32 at the time. We agreed that I would take the crosses from the odd numbered years and Andrew would take the crosses from the even numbered years. And that we would each continue the collections, me the odds, Andrew the evens.
Last year, 2017, Andrew gave me a new cross, inspired by the ceiling of Sainte Chapelle in Paris, France. It features a fleur de lis and strong vertical lines, in the "Rayonnant" style of Gothic architecture.
I cherish my little tree full of crosses. Every year, I take all of the ornaments out of their little bags, polish those that need polishing, read some of the history, and hang them on the small tree I bought just for them. It's one of the Christmas rituals I truly enjoy, and I always am flooded by memories of Christmas with my mother. I display it in my dining room:
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| 2009 |
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| 2013 |
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| 2005 |
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| 1973 |
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| 1975 |
Comments
Keep safe! God bless you and your family!
I lost my mom in April of 2021. That first Christmas without her was heavy, and I honestly hadn’t thought about the crosses at all. Then, on Christmas morning, my wife gently handed me one. In that moment, I was overwhelmed. It felt like my mom was right there with us. Her love, her faith, her presence, wrapped in something small but incredibly powerful.
This year, I made a decision that feels right for my heart. I will place all of my crosses on display in my office, where they can be seen every day. The memories tied to each one, and the love that lives within that sterling silver, are simply too important to tuck away for eleven months of the year.
They are reminders of where I come from, who loved me first, and the quiet ways love continues to show up long after someone is gone.
Thank you, Merry Christmas, and may God bless your families.