13 December 2008
Every year my daughter and I spend our holidays with dear friends who create celebrations for a large extended family. My friend is godmother to my daughter and everyone there has watched her grow up. Even though in some years, we only see each other on Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, we just pick up the story, counting off this year’s ring of growth in our tree of life.
We spend the day catching up on each other’s lives and cheering each other on our journeys. Then we partake of a grand feast. There is always a feast. We bring our best dishes to accompany the lamb for Easter, turkey for Thanksgiving and roast beef at Christmas. We eat, visit some more and play music until it’s time to go home. Everyone has a song, a tune, a story to share. There are tunes and songs we always play because everyone there knows them and can add their voice. The music moves around the room, in us and through us, creating sanctuary where all belong and are welcome. We always feel rooted and festive and full of love when we leave for the long ride home.
After Christmas 2007, I wrote a fiddle tune that brought back the energy of that day. Called High Street Christmas, it’s a Cape-Breton-style reel in A major. No live recording yet, but try this Finale audio file of the transcription. This tune will be on my new Grooviolon CD.
Happy Holidays & Bonne Année
Donna Hébert
