Some things never change on Christmas Eve. Some things simply can’t. There must always be barszcz z uszkami. Always. Other things can come and go — trout as the main course; scallops as a side; mushroom soup (though it pains me to say it) can fail to appear — but barszcz z uszkami. It would be sacrilegious not to have it. Some type of kompot as well. Must be on the menu. The rest? Well, in the end, all of those things are just food — nothing more. Yes, food is more than food. There’s a communal element to it, but any food that’s prepared with care will produce the same effect.

The most significant element that can never change is family. The Christmas season without family is unimaginable, yet it’s a reality for thousands upon thousands every year. Many people in the service spend Christmas with their brothers in arms rather than their brothers in blood. Some spend Christmas alone from choice due to family tension or a highly dysfunctional family that is a family in name only.

Such was our change this year: with Nana in rehab after an extended hospital stay, we tried to carry on as usual in as much as was possible, but it wasn’t the same. You can see it in the pictures — something’s just not quite right there.

Everything was a little off from the start. We all went to Mass before dinner rather than after. No one was sure they wanted to go to midnight Mass, and since L was singing with the girls’ choir for the 4pm Mass, we all took care of our Christmas duty before dinner was even on the table.

Before Mass, the girls gave a little concert. I dutifully recorded the audio on my phone, but when it was time for the Girl to sing her solo — a Polish-language introduction to a Polish carol, which was translated for the rest of the choir into English — I fumbled about trying to switch to video and got neither. What remains? A bit of my all-time favorite carol, “In the Bleak Midwinter.”

They sang another favorite — “Angels’ Carol” by John Rutter — and a couple of others.

They also during the Mass — another Gabriel Fauré piece.

Everything else was the same and yet different: the well-wishing had a bittersweetness to it this year that’s usually lacking.

The gift sharing was lovely as usual, watching the excitement of the kids. But not seeing Nana and Papa “fight” over our family yearbook meant things were, once again, just a bit off.

But even in such moments tinged with temporary loss, there was a bit of brightness — we’ll appreciate it all the more next near when Nana is back with us.

Previous Years, Most with Nana

Wigilia 2003

Wigilia 2004

Wigilia 2005

Wigilia 2006

Wigilia 2007

Wigilia 2008

Wigilia 2009

https://matchingtracksuits.com/2010/12/25/wigilia-2010/

Wigilia 2011

Wigilia 2012

Wigilia 2013

Wigilia 2014

Wigilia 2015

Wigilia 2016

Wigilia 2017