With no intention of starting a religious debate: The "run-up" used to be called Advent, and it was intended as a spiritual preparation time (not shopping time!). In older church music traditions, Advent songs and Christmas songs were different things. Christmas was not over when all the gifts were opened, it ran twelve days up to what was once considered the more important holy day, Epiphany. I've found that observing the traditional calendar (as opposed to the retailers' calendar) brings a more relaxed, peaceful feeling to the season, as well as a slightly perverse delight in bucking the spiritus mundi. Everyone is back to work, decorations long packed away, and my family still has one gift apiece waiting to be opened. :-) Enjoy your Twelvetide celebration. If I were closer I'd drop in. -Glenn
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