The holidays are such a bright and festive time in the lives of all people. Most countries and religions have holidays and each celebrate them differently, but most have dazzling lights and events that rally the masses into celebration. It is a time for joy and rejoicing for all, especially the children. In Clarksville there are a few festivities, mostly centered on Christmas. Even if you do not celebrate, you can appreciate.
Christmas on the Cumberland is one of my all-time favorite things about winter in Clarksville. We don’t get much snow, and most of it is mush, but we do have the niftiest light displays. In this ornamental arrangement, the workers of the city display decorations on every tree that lines our beautiful Riverside McGregor Park.
They also put up large erect lighted characters that line the walk, so as you walk down it you get to see Toy Land and Santa’s Workshop, complete with all the elves and a few presents. It is something you cannot miss while driving down Riverside Drive at night this time of year.
No matter what holiday you celebrate, there is something to be found in those lights on the river. Those bulbs twinkle and find a way to your heart. Families suffer the cold and ice to see this display at least once before the season is over.
Recently, I took my niece and nephews to see the lights, and it was a flop. The older two hated it, and they thought the idea of lights being entertaining was too childish. The youngest, however, loved it and wanted to stay out all night to see them more. It bothered me so much the older two did not appreciate what I saw in the lights, and then the revelation occurred. Holiday decorations are not “cool” to children who are trying to be older than they are.
We have moved into a generation where our children must act older than they are. They are given more responsibility and more pressure than a child can cope with. A child is no longer the youth that explores and finds things out for themselves. They have become spoon fed. It is to be said we are raising our children to be young adults from birth. Given young adults are often the most irresponsible, how are we to teach our children the ideals we were taught if we do not allow them to be childish?
It hurt me the oldest two children could not stop sulking enough to see the lights were put up with hard work for pure enjoyment. They could not see the time and labor or wonder and merriment in the lights that shine all through the night.
It hurt most they could not act like children and appreciate it.
I know it is not status quo to think Christmas lights are cool at their age, but when I saw those lights for the first time at the age of 17, I was astounded, and I wish they would have liked them just a little more.
In the future it may come to be we lose what it is to have holidays and celebrations, the children who do not hold these things dear may just do away with them. It really is true our children are our future.
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