Why Christmas is in December

For several weeks now I've been thinking about Christmas being in December and the New Year starting in the middle of winter.  This very American-centric notion is certainly not new with me or even new to me. I remember reading years ago some writer reflecting on these similar thoughts.  But, somehow, the idea has struck me again this year.  

I'm glad that Christmas is in December.  And I'm glad the calendar changes during some of the harsher weather days of the winter.  And I like that you plant bulbs and order seeds in the winter.  

Its like a hope-filled protest.  Even though things are dead all around.  Even though the ground is indeed hard as iron, we celebrate.  We plant flowers that won't bloom for months and on New Year's Eve we throw a large outdoor party in Times Square and in all the Times Squares around the country.  And because these things are in the middle of winter, there is a brilliance to them that I fear would be lost if these holidays surround the changing of a season.  

I'm grateful for the holidays.  They help me face the cold and gray with hope and with a party.