Niamh.

The First Christmas.
It was all a mystery to Niamh.
Coming up to her first birthday, Christmas fell in her eleventh month, and she was awestruck by the lights and the gaiety and the festive fun. She'd noticed some people going around with lights on their jumpers, and even though she was too young to understand, she wondered what that was all about?
As she was wheeled around in her buggy, up and down the hilly streets of Wexford town, she was aware of an energy in the people. Instinctively, she knew they were busy. She didn't know if she agreed with the frenetic nature of their shopping, and she shook her baby head in disapproval. It was all beyond her.
A wisp of her blond hair fluttered in the cool December breeze. She attracted attention in the way of all newborns, with people, especially women, making nice comments about her blue eyes and flawless, smooth complexion. She coughed, feeling the sudden chill of the wintry month, and she felt her mother's comforting hands reaching in towards her to adjust her little red jacket, scarf, woolly hat, and blanket.
That's better, she thought.
Her parents then continued pushing her through the crowds. She loved the sight of the Christmas train that pushed through the streets, all lit up with festive red lights. A sort of polar express, Wexford style. She could hear her brother Sean imploring her folks about some guy called Santa. She felt the same mysterious energy of her brother as they waited in line to see this mysterious figure. He wasn't what she was expecting.
She was taken by the red and black outfit, and the big white beard, but she was surprised that a man so heavy looking in appearance could be so popular with the crowds. Ugh, she grunted, as the man gave her a funny smile and plucked at her cheek. He put something wrapped in paper into her buggy and gave her a lollipop.
Back out in the streets, she was again taken by the sights. One shop, she noticed, had some kind of a reindeer display, and she was struck by the magical nature of it all. Her parents were having a discussion about what to do next. They decided on the icerink, and she watched from the safety of her buggy, as they put on funny shoes and danced around, somewhat awkwardly, she thought.
She was glad to leave there. Out on the water, a fishing trawler was making its way past a red nun. The air down beside the water was crisp and fresh, but she liked it. A group of young girls were singing Christmas carols. Silent night.
They next went into the cool confines of Bride Street church, and she was again taken by the nativity scene up near the altar. She wondered about the piety of her parents' faces. What was that all about, she wondered?
Her mother was speaking to her in hushed tones. Her words were babyspeak, but comforting. Something about a baby boy born in a stable in Bethlehem, and three wise men who came to visit him. What's a King, she thought? Explaining away the mystery of that first Christmas.