Christmas Already?!

I wonder where time goes, but why wonder? It goes in the ebb and flow of life. And it comes full circle... daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually. And like every year, it is the "holidays" again. I'm not sure how this time got the rather generic moniker of "the holidays"... There are enough different cultures and religions that there are holidays occurring all the time. Why just this time?

Partially there is the whole thing with Christianity, who realised that good PR begins with a peaceful approach to conversion, not the bludgeoning process that the Crusades were. And clearly neither approach was wholly successful - the Saracens clearly held their own, and good for them! It is appalling how many religions and cultures no longer exist. So there is some of it. And empiracally, there is nothing to suggest that Jesus was born in December - since the calendar as it is did not exist, it assuming a lot to say we do.

And then there are a lot of big holidays, the ones that most people know. Christmas, Channukah, Kwanzaa (that is a more recent addition), and (for a time) Ramadan. That particular holiday moves, though, and fast.

And then there is the retail industry. I suppose we should thank them for all they have done to improve the holidays... but then, this has sucked any of the real meaning out of it. I guess it doesn't matter what the beliefs are behind what and when you celebrate something, as long as it means something to you, and elevates your usual behaviour or way of living to something better. On the other hand, why should you be an unmitigated ass most of the year and then live like a saint now? It's a conundrum!

No matter what... happy holidays!