Mistletoe And Whine...

Let me tell you of the strange occurences during that most annoying yet enjoyable of holidays, Christmas. Normally it is a time of year associated with several things: Alcoholism, gluttony and laziness being three of the main aspects of the current guise of this once holy day. While it may seem like the spirit of Christmas is still with us, it sure as hell has changed it's clothes! No longer do we see traditions kept to year on year, nowadays people more often than not staying away from their homes, some away from their families, and some even away from themselves, and that disappoints me. There will never be a loss of identity to the season, it will always be in winter, always in December, always sending mindless droves to markets, malls and megastores all individually bidding to get the latest piece of crap for their children to break. It is a seemingly senseless waste of resources, such as time, money and sanity.

But, and it's a big but, I love Christmas. For all it's current failings and inconveniences, it seems to bring out the best in people. I'm not talking about all that giving and receiving rubbish, that's just a material task. I'm talking about the way it brings people close together, smiling, laughing, singing even. It's what makes me tick over the period. It's the one time my family can all sit together and, for all our worries and troubles, have some mindless, carefree fun. Although material, I like to give gifts to my family. I like seeing them smile when they open the things I bought them. That is my Christmas. Seeing the ones I love smile. Seeing them enjoy the fleeting happiness that comes only on the receipt of a thoughtful gift from a loved one. It means so much to me, and I don't care if I receive anything in return, that's not important to me. Although, I do appreciate their gifts, and I do show the same happiness, because the thought they put into their gifts to me also make me smile.

So let's not forget that despite all of it's failings, Christmas is more than simply a religious celebration. It can be the coming together of families and friends, and that alone should be treasured more than anything.