The Fragrance of Christmas 

I share an online Bible study with several women, and the facilitator always asks a few ladies to tell about their favorite fragrance. I’m not a ready volunteer, but I’m thinking my favorite might be Christmas. Yep, Christmas definitely has a beautiful aroma! 

I remember the pungent scent of cedar trees that Daddy would cut and carry into our little farm house for decorating. The smell of Mama’s cakes, pies and homemade rolls just out of the oven. 

As an adult, I especially loved the smell of the breads and cookies I baked at Christmas. Gifting them to friends and neighbors. It’s still my passion! I once had a tiny, recipe book with Christmas foods from around the world and tried several recipes, including miniature, Mexican cookies wrapped in colorful paper rolls. But my favorite was the Cream Puff Christmas Tree (French Croquembouche). 

My husband and kids helped fill dozens of miniature cream puffs to stack into the shape of a Christmas tree then drizzle with green icing. Even our youngest, Jay, still in a high chair, was pulled up to the kitchen bar with his dad and brother and sister. It became a game as to who could fill and stack the most cream puffs, so our tree didn’t exactly match the recipe’s picture, but it was fun and tasty. 

Then there were the Bourbon cookies I baked only at Christmas with our neighbor always supplying the Bourbon since we didn’t keep liquor on hand. It became a holiday tradition with our two families. And oh, the pure pleasure of cookie baking with my grandchildren as they cut out and decorated Christmas sugar cookies to their heart’s content. It was especially fun if their parents weren’t there, because Grammi-Lou would let them sample several goodies. 

There’s just something unique about holiday scents. It’s the aroma of love. Being with family and friends. Sharing a meal. Opening a gift. Honoring precious, loved ones who are spending Christmas in heaven. And what a blessed joy to gather at a Christmas Eve candlelight service and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. 

It’s the true fragrance of Christmas!