It IS a Wonderful Life!

Someone recently commented that they were surprised Madrid gets so involved in the holiday season, with Christmas lights, a parade, stage coach rides, and Mr. & Mrs. Claus. Hmmm, I’m not surprised at all. I don’t think Madrid Christmas happens because of consumerism or religion. It is much more than that. As I walk down Main Street each weekend in December, I feel a total sweetness from the ambiance in town. It is special and different here. What a beautiful retreat from middle-America, where the spirit has been lost. Of course, when my friend made the comment, I tried to truly understand the “whys” of Christmas in Madrid.
 
There is a historical aspect of Madrid Christmas that dates back to the early 1900’s, when the coal miners took pride in showing off their hard work of producing electricity. They lined the mountains, streets, and homes with Christmas lights galore. It is said that airliners would divert their course to fly over Madrid to get a glimpse of the lights below and more than 100,000 people would drive to Madrid to see the lights. It must have been quite a display. The history of Madrid is what makes it such a special place, and preserving the tradition is important.
 
The United States has lost this home town feel. I don’t think the current culture is something, as adults, we were working towards, and yet, here it is – “America, the Homogenized Society”. There is nothing special about going to a Wal-Mart, Target, or Pier One to buy a Christmas present for your loved one. Coming to Madrid for Christmas is more than about shopping. It is an authentic experience, where not only can you purchase the most beautiful hand made items, but a Christmas spirit prevails. I can no longer go to a mall! Take me back to the good ole days anytime! It is difficult for a community to maintain this charm, as corporate America beckons at the door with easy cell phone access, for example. For most of us here, I think we have lived ‘out there’ and found it to be very unsatisfying.
 
This past summer, a family came into the gallery where I work with their two boys, who must have been in grade school. They seemed to be enjoying the trip. The father told me he had driven his family across the states, and it was such a sad sight. Every metropolis was the same – A Denny’s, a Walgreen’s, and other chain stores at every street corner! He was about my age, and we reminisced about days gone by. Then he said something I will always remember – his children will never know the world we grew up in – ever. It is lost. I looked at the young boys and felt a sadness for them. They will never know.
 
Here in Madrid, we work at keeping it special, and different, and nostalgic. I also see something else going on with the celebration of Christmas - beyond my social commentary! I think we are also celebrating a Spirit and the celebration of Life.
 
I don’t know if it is a conscious effort or if it is just happening serendipitously. Maybe magic like this emerges when a community of such creative people converges. 
 
Have you ever seen the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life”? It is an old movie, produced in
1949. As many may remember, Jimmy Stuart played the distraught character, George Bailey.He lived in the small town of Bedford Falls. Much like Madrid, everyone’s life was so interconnected, though George didn’t see the value of his own life and how he impacted the life of others. It was Christmas Eve and George was on the verge of suicide. He could no longer deal with the dilemmas of his life. He had always dreamed of exploring the world, but his responsibilities kept him in Bedford Falls. His finances were on the verge of demise, and he felt trapped with only one way out. George jumped off the bridge, and was rescued by Clarence, his angel in training. It was Clarence’s mission to save George and if he succeeded, he would finally get his wings.
 
Life can be overwhelming. The troubles George was having still ring true today. Sometimes the holidays intensify those feelings and one can forget the value of life, their life. When George told Clarence, “I wish I had never been born”, he got his wish. The movie becomes a bit macabre at that point, as George sees that nothing is the same in the little village of Bedford Falls without him. It isn’t a pretty picture. Eventually, George comes to his senses, and realizes his life has so much value, and affects all those around him. Ah, I love movies! It’s a classic for a reason.
 
What I see happening this December in Madrid is a community coming together - in celebration. All the lights, and the decorations, and the holiday cheer isn’t just for the visitor – it is for us, for all of us. Roasting marshmallows over a fire pit with friends, is Spirit. Riding in the stage coach is a chance to relish in the nostalgic ambiance that is Madrid. This is the time of year, no matter what your beliefs, that we can celebrate - each other, Spirit, and Life.

"Every time you hear a bell ring, it means some angel's just got his wings."

“Renee With Wings” by Patricia Whitewing