Christmas Cookies

Asher will become famous for rich foods, candies and sweets fit for kings.

 - Genesis 49:20 (The Message)

We have a tradition in my family, one that dates at least to my mom’s mom. This tradition is that everyone in the family has to have a favorite Christmas cookie and they get that cookie each year. Now this is a wonderful tradition and always is received with joy. But, and you know there would be a but; it can be a bit overwhelming once you get your children’s significant others and your grandkids included in the list.  It means a wide variety of cookies but it also means making a wide variety of cookies. And of course as more and more folks are added to the list the choice of cookies becomes more difficult. We have modified our tradition to the point where someone can have a favorite that has already been claimed by someone else. It makes it easier on the cookie bakers and on the selection process.

When I was doing my “Foods of Faiths” meals based on the primary holiday of each faith there was a common thread that ran through them all, a sweet treat. It would seem that almost every culture and faith has a sweet tooth and that at times of joyous celebration that tooth is fed. One reason that sweet treats are so much a part of these special times is that sweeteners (sugar, honey, molasses, etc) are not easy to procure or produce. They are available for limited times or it takes a lot of effort to produce them. So these sweet ingredients are prized and used sparingly except at times of celebration.

Today in the 21^st century western world at least sugar and other sweet ingredients are easy to come by, relatively cheap and most of us have sweet treats as part of our every day (or maybe limited to weekly) diets. Sweets are no big deal to us. Cookies and candies and pies and cakes are available at every store, gas station, newsstand, restaurant, hardware store and just about everywhere else. They just aren’t that special anymore; the common place-ness of them has lessened their specialness but so as the quality of a lot of them. Mass produced sweets always seem lacking to me. Now some treats in some bakeries and restaurants are almost to die for in their quality and taste but that bag of cookies or that freezer pie just seems to be missing something.

So I like our Christmas tradition. We produce quality, handmade treats that are special because they are handmade and because they are favorites, not every day treats. At Christmas we use only the best – real butter, special flour, top of line chocolate, fresh and special ingredients all the way around. We make small batches – enough but not too much. And we take the time to decorate them well, make them look picture perfect, and have their presentation be special. They are truly treats for one and all.

So we begin the baking this weekend. We start with gingerbread, move on to sugar cookies, do the spritz, make what we call wagon wheels but what the rest of the world calls chocolate crinkles, then comes the fudge with and without nuts, then peanut butter cookies both with and without the chocolate kiss, snicker doodles make an appearance, gingersnaps have to be done, snowballs rolled out (my dad’s favorite which we will make in his memory this year), and the Check Mix baked (we salt lovers need a special fix too!). We spread this over several days and we end our special treats with fresh cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning. Makes my mouth water just typing this!

I hope you have a tradition that is exceptional. One that makes everyone feel that they are special. I hope that whether or not you have a large group or if it is even just yourself you keep that tradition alive. Everyone needs some touch stone, some special ritual, and some tradition that sparks memories, brings meaning, and helps make you feel this is a special time. If you don’t have some tradition now is as good a time as any to start one. Don’t be afraid to try something and see if it fits. We have gone through several traditions in my family. Some of them stuck and some of them lasted for a time and some didn’t make the must do status of Christmas cookies but all of them helped to bring meaning and significance to our celebrations.

Dear God, thank you for traditions, rituals and other things that make celebrations and holidays special. May all people everywhere have some special moment and treat this year. Be with those who have lost their traditions or who have never had them. May every one of your children feel special this year. Amen.