Wreaths

  Early interesting Cars:

Now today:
Christmas is a season of joy and celebration. We of the Christian faith hold this season and the coming season of Spring, Easter, as sacred. Since it is Christmas we decorate. I guess Sherry has even hung a ‘wreath’ at our door at times.

BUT as I grew up wreaths meant sadness.  During my youth when someone died the body was taken to a funeral home. There the family met to choose a coffin from a few on display. At that time a mortician was embalming and dressing the body of the deceased & preparing the body for burial. A member of the funeral home staff would go to the home of the deceased and hang a dark wreath at the door signifying there had been a death in this home. Later that day the body would be brought home in the casket. It would remain over night during the wake. The next day the deceased would be taken to a church for service, then buried. That is how I knew wreaths, as a sign of death.

Singing in our churches was very important. At times Mama and daddy sang as a duet in church. The words of an ‘ancient’ song went something like this:

….There will be no crapes (wreaths) on the door knobs,

No hearses in the sky,

No graves on the hills of glory,

 For there we will never die.

I’ll pay no rent for my mansion,

My tax will never come due.

And my clothes will never be thread bare,

But fadeless and new.

Etc…

The song was very ‘old timey’ tent meeting singing. Sung to listening hard working farmers and mill workers. Who prayed, hoping, dreaming and seeking a better life.

I am glad that wreaths are now a sign of life and joy. Wreaths are still sent to the graveside of loved ones, but they are also hung at many doors to signify the Birth of the Heart of our Christian nation. Like it or not, this is a nation founded on Christian beliefs. The USA accepts people of all faiths. This is Christmas, The CHRISTIAN HOLY DAY we care not if it is everyone’s belief but it is our HOLY time of remembrance; AND especially in this country, we think it should be respected.

Nite Shipslog

PS: Tomorrow I will answer a question asked a long time ago here on the blog about our ‘indoor swimming pool’.