spirit of christmas

[winddance]

only one on the block
that put up christmas lights
they make me happy
older days when the magic
was still a part of the season
fresh cut tree
and older than dirt ornaments
151 rum balls
curing since thanksgiving
warm fire
family and
strings of lights to make
me happy

[mnaz]

The season of lights is well-placed at the dark winter solstice. I always noticed and believed that

[sasha]

The solstices had long been celebrated in pagan traditions, a practice that continued even after the Catholic church tried to suppress it. My understanding is that no one really knows what time of year Jesus was born (though references to "shepherds tending their flocks" have a whiff of lambing time - the spring.) So one of the early popes figured as long as the solstice was going to be a drunken revel anyway, might as well co-opt it as a religious holiday. Marketing 101. Happy Birthday, Jesus.

I can see the sunrise from my kitchen, but this time of year I have to lean 'way across the sink and look far off to the right. By the June solstice, it'll be in my eyes when I wash the breakfast dishes. Better than any timepiece I've ever owned.

[saw]

I enjoy hearing about all the various traditions people celebrate with

some have been passed down through families for generations and some are the spark of brand news ways to look at things

Whichever way you enjoy the holiday, I'm more than ok with, because I dig diversity.....Merry, Merry, Merry

[mnaz]

I just like the common sense approach, how these lights light up darkness at the darkest time of the year on the calendar.