A Tale For The Holidays

We Three Kings

We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar.
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.


O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light.


Born a king on Bethlehem's plain,
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign.


O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light.


Frankincense to offer have I.
Incense owns a Deity nigh.
Prayer and praising all men raising,
Worship Him, God on high.


O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light.


Myrrh is mine: Its bitter perfume
Breaths a life of gathering gloom.
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.


O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light.


Glorious now behold Him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Sounds through the earth and skies.


O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light

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All the villagers came to hear Miroku tell the tale of Christmas. Some cleared off paths to sit on the ground while others stood up.

Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha stood behind the crowd since they were so much taller than the villagers. Sesshoumaru wrapped mokomoko around his mates to keep them warm while Kagome held Fuyuki.

Miroku then began to tell the tale of Christmas.

“So we think we are all ready for Christmas. The stockings are up, the houses are decorated and everyone has a present for one another. But are you missing something? What does Christmas really mean? Is it all about getting presents and eating candy and waiting up for Santa Claus?

The word “Christmas” gives us some hints about what Christmas was originally about. It started off with the birth of Jesus Christ, in the country of Israel.

Jesus’ birth is very important to Christians around the world that believe that Jesus is the Son of God. They celebrate Christmas like a big birthday party. That’s why they give gifts to each other, because Jesus was born on that day.

But families celebrate Christmas in all sorts of ways. Some families put up lots of candles all over their houses, and decorations to celebrate the holiday. Maybe your family makes you lots of presents and puts them under a Christmas tree. Maybe you don’t celebrate Christmas at all.

The most important thing to remember when you’re thinking about Christmas is that it’s not just about presents or Santa Claus or singing Christmas carols. Christmas marks a very important historic event that has been celebrated all over the world which to Christians is the birth of Jesus the Savior of mankind.”

Miroku stopped there for a moment.

“Now do any of you children know about Santa Clause?”

Some of the children raised their hands while others did not.

“Santa Claus is a magical being who delivers toys to good children around the world each year on Christmas Eve. According to legend, Santa lives at the North Pole and oversees a toy workshop run by busy elves. Each Christmas Eve he delivers presents to good boys and girls. Santa does this on the eve of the celebration of the birth of Jesus, Santa is said to fly around the world delivering his toys in a sled pulled by eight flying reindeer: Blitzen, Comet, Cupid, Dancer, Dasher, Donder (or Donner), Prancer, and Vixen.’
“If you are bad than you receive coal in your stocking rather than presents so all of you children must be good all year round so that Santa will bring you your presents.’
“Sometimes your presents may be toys, but Santa also thinks about your needs so you may get warm clothing or a gift you may not have wished for. You must remember that Santa has watched you all year long and knows many things about you.’
“Now do any of you have questions about Santa Claus?”

The children asked about the reindeer and how they could fly which Miroku once again stated that it was by magic and that Santa would not come to the village if the children were not asleep in their beds. Then Miroku went on about the meaning of certain things that are done during Christmas in other lands as well as what this village does every Christmas.

“All of you probably wonder why we put up decorations on our houses and why we do this every year.’
“The Star: A heavenly sign of prophecy fulfilled long, long ago- The shining hope of mankind.

The Color Red: The first color of Christmas, symbolizing that Savior's sacrifice for all.

The Fir Tree: Evergreen-the second color of Christmas shows everlasting light and life. The needles point up to heaven.

The Bell: Rings out to guide lost sheep back to the fold, signifying that all are precious in God’s eyes.

The Candle: A mirror of starlight, reflecting our thanks for the star of Bethlehem.

The Gift Bow: Tied as we should all be tied together in bonds of goodwill forever.

The Candy Cane: Represents the shape of the shepherd’s crook, used to bring lost lambs back to the fold.

The Wreath: A symbol of the never ending eternal value of love having no end.”

Miroku used his staff and drew these things into the snow.

“Although we are Buddhist we celebrate this Holiday because it brings joy to everyone and makes people act a little nicer during this special day. Not everyone is as fortunate as we are to share a special day with people who do not believe in the same things we do. But Buddha I believe would be pleased that we are indeed sharing with one another and that we would want to instill the feelings of hope and peace to all his children.”

After Miroku finished Inuyasha was to read the Christmas story as Miroku handed him the scroll that told the tale from the book that Kagome had brought to their world.

“I am not good at this as Miroku, but I am going to read this to all of you anyway.’

“'Twas the Night Before Christmas

(By Clement Clarke Moore)

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.
And Mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.
When out on the roof there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
tore open the shutter, and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
gave the luster of midday to objects below,
when, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick or Santa Clause.
More rapid than eagles, his coursers they came,
and he whistled and shouted and called them by name:
"Now Dasher! Now Dancer!
Now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid!
On, Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch!
To the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away!
Dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky
so up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
with the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
the prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head and was turning around,
down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes--how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
and the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
that shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
and I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
and filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

At the end of the tale all the children started yawning and their parents took them to bed. Sesshoumaru had many questions on why they would celebrate a Holiday that was not part of his beliefs. Still, he could see how happy it made the little ones and decided it was best to allow them to have their dreams of Santa Claus and Christmas.

Sesshoumaru walked with his mates inside the little house and Sesshoumaru looked at Kagome who seemed a little bit sad.

“What is the matter little one?”

Sesshoumaru asked Kagome.

“I just miss my family. It isn’t that I don’t feel like I have family here, but it just isn’t the same without my Haha, Sofu, and Otouto. I hope that by some miracle we will all be able to go through the well to my world. That is what I would like for Christmas.”

At that Sesshoumaru held Kagome gently.

“Things will be fine Kagome. Even if your wish does not come true Inuyasha and I will always be your family.”

Kagome smiled at that and Inuyasha came to give both his mates a hug before they all retired to bed since they would be getting up later to fill stockings with fruits and candies for all the village children and in the morning every child would be fitted and given new shoes as well as coats. Sesshoumaru for the first time in his life felt good about giving to others so it was a big step for him to do this, but for Rin and his mates he would move the world.