And Meeting Junkie No More wrote,
"I love it too! I remember Christmas as a child until about the age of 8 when one of my parents converted, so I have fond memories of just how magical and beautiful the season was. My other parent was the atheist 'Grinch' so I grew up with one of each! Anyhow, prep for Christmas took almost six weeks, what with Advent (lighting of 1 candle 4 weeks before Christmas, lighting of 2 candles 3 weeks before, lighting of 3 candles 2 weeks before and all 4 candles the week of), baking up a storm for friends and family, putting up of the tree, our little Advent calendar when we got to open a little window on the calendar every day from December 1 - 25 (with a little chocolate surprise behind each one). We made a lot of our gifts, so we were very busy hiding stuff and working on our creations when other family members weren't around. The excitement and prep was wonderful - we were a lot poorer then, but that didn't stop us making the most of it and enjoying it to the full.
So after, 45+ years, it's those memories that make me love it. Can't say the same for my other half who was literally born-in (never experienced a Christmas ever) - you grinches remind me of what I face every day! HOWEVER, I've already made my fruitcake which is steeping as we speak, getting moister by the day; I still have sheets and sheets of goodies to bake, drinks to mix, and presents to wrap, but this is what gets me through December, the darkest time of year. Those pagan revellers were on to something, I say - if it's dark outside, light everything up and make merry! What could be wrong with that? ..."
Zid