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It's that time of year again. If you haven't already gone out and done your holiday shopping, most of the good stuff is already gone. Now is the time for stress as you clean up the house for company or work like a madman to pay those holiday bills.

Something bothered me last year... "War on Christmas." By saying, "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings" it was somehow underminding the real reason of the season. And what's that reason? The shortest day of the year for the northern hemisphere! After the Winter Solstice the days grow longer and there's more sunlight and heat and winter ends and spring begins! It's a day greatly anticipated by all the early agricultural communities because it brought hope for the coming spring. So it's no wonder that many religions mark Winter Solstice with celebration and gift giving. Preparing presents gave people something positive to work towards when they were otherwise bored and couped up waiting out blizzard after blizzard. It was much better use of time than sitting around pondering if you would die that winter from cold or disease.

There is an ancient tradition to decorate evergreen trees with lights to symbolize the return of the sun in anticipation for future, warmer days. There's another ancient tradition to give food to an old man in the village and offer him hospitality because it will bring you good luck and bountiful harvest come spring.

Some Biblical scholars pinpoint Jesus' birth to Springtime, May or April. Why then would they move it to the dead of Winter? That had more to do with converting the Pagans to Christianity. Jesus replaced the Sun and it was easier for the Pagans to accept that than it was for them to give up their Solstice celebration. Let's face it... who wants to give up celebrating in the middle of dreary depths of winter? It gives a sense of happiness is a season that would otherwise just be cold and bleak.

I wish everyone Happy Holidays! May your coming year be warm and bountiful.

(I think my theory on Winter Solstice celebration only really applies in places where Winter is deadly. Closer to the equator, the changing of the seasons aren't as noticable.)