The Children's gift of Christmas

To remember what Christmas is all about, ask a child. Find one too young to consider tinsel a pejorative term, or Jesus' birthday spoiled by commercialism. Then you can celebrate Christmas as if you had never heard of it before.

Surprise is the gift children offer us at Christmas time, lighting up the old familiar traditions. A Monitor photographer catches a child's-eye view of the antique toys that link us to Christmas past. Old stories take on astonishing delight when they are shared with friends, and cold feet are forgotten when Christmas lights and church spire are seen with reverence and amazement.

The legendary child who had never heard of the New Testament until he happened to come across a Bible and then wept over the gospel story will lend us his vision.