Do you celebrate Christmas?

I've made no effort to hide the face that I practice Wicca.  I love the path I'm on, and wouldn't change it for the world.  Having just gotten over my giant food hangover from Yule, I can vouch for the fact that the whole family looks forward to Sabbats.  I can't wait to make jalapeño cornmeal muffins for Imbolc.  I've been eyeing that recipe for quite some time now.

Today, Brianna and I are going to cuddle on the floor, have shortbread and milk, and watch a  Charlie Brown Christmas.  Why?  It's my Christmas tradition!  Tonight, we are going to my parents house to spend the night.  Why?  So we can be there Christmas morning of course!

My parents are awesome.  They both believe in a higher power of some sort, but they are fairly secular.  Not only do they not make a huge deal of it, however, they actively encourage my own path.  They came and celebrated with us for Yule this year.  My dad even wanted to participate in our ritual!

I also think that this is a great way to separate the commercialism of Christmas from the spiritualism of Yule.  Not to say that Christmas isn't spiritual for some people, I'm sure it is.  The common theme of Christmas is gifts, though.  Our plan is to have special gifts on Yule, things that mean something.  Like Sean's Thor's Hammer necklace, my Spiral Necklace.  This year, the only thing that "means" anything to Brianna is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, so we ran with it.  Then on Christmas, we can go and celebrate with my parents.  She can get all the "cool toys" when she is older over there.  If we want to buy her something more than meaningful things, we will give these to her on Christmas Day at my parent's house.  The hope is that she will be able to distinguish between two similar holidays.

So we do celebrate Christmas.  And why not? I'll even listen to my mom's silly carols for that day.  Tolerance and understanding are edicts of both faiths, and we can all use a little more of them.

Goddess Bless,

S.