Over the last week or so I have been asked if “I have had a nice Christmas”.

My reply is “yes I am having a nice Christmas as there are twelve days of it”.

Have we lost our way so much? I mean all the stress and effort that is put into the festive celebration and for it to last a few hours. What a waste.

Traditionally, this festive time lasted well into the year and wouldn’t end till the end of February. It was a constant feast time and a salutation for many a different reason. Mostly, to share out and be thankful of the hard work involved in producing food and shelter during the productive months of the passing year and to wish in the Winter Solstice.

Within this time of feasts and thanksgiving Christmas was introduced to mark the birth of The Baby Jesus. Thus transforming and intertwining Christianity into the Pagan beliefs.

Okay having the festive period from the end of November to the the end of February would cause compound troubles to our modern lives such as time off work, eating and drinking too much and the brutality that endless days of partying would see. I say this as the focus would be hijacked by the marketing boys and we would be exploited by their want for us to spend all or our money and more and end up selling our souls to the Devil, the bean counter.

The revised window is a far more refined way of doing things but there is still  some mystery attached to it. It all depends when one starts their celebrations; Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. For me Christmas Eve is the time to decorate the home, hang the stockings and set out the mince pies and port. So yesterday was my Epiphany. However, for others who start on the 25th then their twelfth night will be today the 6th January.

Why spend so much time trying to make one day perfect when one’s efforts can be spread over nearly two weeks? Vast mountains of food can be enjoyed in smaller amounts on separate days. The cost of the whole affair can be cut dramatically if it wasn’t all crammed into one day. Stomach upsets, wasted food, stressful expectations and obligations would be far less and so everyone has the chance to relax and enjoy the time of year. Gifts shared over twelve days? Far more exciting than all in one bundle and it wouldn’t have to be extravagant. Start with the simple things and end with the main.

Christmas and New Year could become a wonderful festival again rather than the commercial farce it has turned into in modern times and all could be included rather than the few chosen for that One day.

Yes I have had a “nice” Christmas thank you, have you?