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Christmas Eve
Dec. 24th, 2011 10:47 amIt makes so much sense to wake up at eight in the morning rather than six during Midwinter -- at least the sun is already up.
Lots of chatter on Facebook, on Fox, and around about the erasing of Christmas from the midwinter holidays. Most of the comments (from Fox) are rumors, and either totally untrue or something that's been going on for so many years -- like a cozy picture of a room at the White House on the President's Christmas Cards -- that it's obvious that the only reason they are bringing it up is to bash President Obama. Ah, well, that's politics in America right now, and we won't talk about it right now.
But "Happy Holidays" as a greeting rather than "Merry Christmas"? To me, the holidays go from December 21 (Solstice) to January 6 (Three Kings Day.) Back when the girls were little, I would say from December 1, when the advent calendar came out, to January 6. In that time, we have St. Nicholas Day (Dec 6), St Lucia Day (Dec 13), Solstice, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, and Three Kings Day, not to mention the day-long trek to cut down a Christmas Tree, family shopping excursions, and the togetherness of baking candy and making cookies. And, of course, visits throughout the season by friends and family.
When someone wishes me a Merry Christmas, they are wishing me a great day on December 25. When someone wishes me Happy Holidays, they are hoping that my entire midwinter season is enjoyable. It doesn't negate Christmas at all, it's just an acknowledgement that Christmas only one day of the season.
That having been said, I'm going to mix up another batch of cookies, get the turkey ready for Christmas Eve dinner, call Daughter #2 (still asleep! at 11:00), and de-clutter the house. In our household, Christmas Eve officially starts at 6:00, and you've got to be ready.
(And if I'm very, very lucky, there may be time to watch the Doctor Who marathon this afternoon.)
Lots of chatter on Facebook, on Fox, and around about the erasing of Christmas from the midwinter holidays. Most of the comments (from Fox) are rumors, and either totally untrue or something that's been going on for so many years -- like a cozy picture of a room at the White House on the President's Christmas Cards -- that it's obvious that the only reason they are bringing it up is to bash President Obama. Ah, well, that's politics in America right now, and we won't talk about it right now.
But "Happy Holidays" as a greeting rather than "Merry Christmas"? To me, the holidays go from December 21 (Solstice) to January 6 (Three Kings Day.) Back when the girls were little, I would say from December 1, when the advent calendar came out, to January 6. In that time, we have St. Nicholas Day (Dec 6), St Lucia Day (Dec 13), Solstice, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, and Three Kings Day, not to mention the day-long trek to cut down a Christmas Tree, family shopping excursions, and the togetherness of baking candy and making cookies. And, of course, visits throughout the season by friends and family.
When someone wishes me a Merry Christmas, they are wishing me a great day on December 25. When someone wishes me Happy Holidays, they are hoping that my entire midwinter season is enjoyable. It doesn't negate Christmas at all, it's just an acknowledgement that Christmas only one day of the season.
That having been said, I'm going to mix up another batch of cookies, get the turkey ready for Christmas Eve dinner, call Daughter #2 (still asleep! at 11:00), and de-clutter the house. In our household, Christmas Eve officially starts at 6:00, and you've got to be ready.
(And if I'm very, very lucky, there may be time to watch the Doctor Who marathon this afternoon.)
