A Holly, Jolly Christmas

Thanks to everyone for a great Christmastime. It was sad to leave, although obviously I was eager to get down to Florida. I never get into the spirit early enough, and in the end I feel ambushed by all the Christmas spirit. I'm not sure what I could do to change things except putting up a Christmas tree in my apartment in Somerville--and judging by the state of our few other surviving plants, it would be an act of cruelty.

This was the first year, however, where it has been as clear to me that the act of giving gifts is symbolic. It's really entirely secondary. I can imagine the three shepherds, undoubtedly not very confident in social situations, standing around and saying: "So. Do we just go? The Angel said it was important, so we've got to go. Did he say anything about what to bring? Is this a bottle of wine type situation?" Frankincense, amber & myrrh were social afterthoughts. Pure formalities.

It is funny how customs develop.