Christmas is Coming!!

Thanksgiving has come and gone, with full bellies we now move on to Christmas! Santa Claus, decorating of home and yard is soon to be seen, gift shopping to be done as well as mailing of the Christmas Cards.

The school children are preparing for the singing of Carols at Christmas programs around the area. Burns High School Music Concert, Dec. 4 at 7:00 p.m., Carpenter Christmas program will be on Dec. 7 at 6:30 p.m., Carpenter elementary, Pine Bluffs High School Winter Music Concert Dec. 12 at 7:00 p.m., Pine Bluffs High School, Dec. 19 Pine Bluffs Christmas Program, 6:30 p.m., Pine Bluffs Elementary.

Christmas mailing recommendations per the United States Postal website, for the contiguous U.S, are as follows: retail ground by Dec. 14, first class mail by Dec. 19, priority mail by Dec. 20 and express priority by Dec.22. Alaska is Dec. 20 for first class and priority and Dec. 21 for express priority. If you are shipping to Hawaii you need to start a little sooner for first call and priority, Dec. 15 and for express priority is Dec. 20.

This is the most wonderful time of the year and everyone seems to get in on the act. From the movies and program special on T.V., to the store windows that have been decorated and the friendly faces around town. Some say it is also the saddest time of the year, if you have recently lost a loved one, it could be hard to face the holiday with joy.

The children have their wish list written down in a letter to Santa. Of course the popular items have been stocked, in the stores, if you were lucky, you found a good price during "Black Friday."

The holiday seems to have evolved from the original meaning of Christmas, which was the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The month and date of Jesus's birth are unknown, by the early to mid fourth century the Western Christian Church had placed Christmas on December 25, per Wikipedia. The same date was later adopted in the east as well. It is not know why December 25 was chosen, there could be several factors that may have influenced the choice. That date was the date the Romans marked as the winter solstice, it is also the shortest and darkest day of the year (which is funny because Santa makes all the stops around the world, per the legend).

December 25 has revolved from "Merry Christmas" to "Happy Holidays," to appease all that do not believe in Jesus Christ. However you chose to say it, or celebrate the day, do it with family and friends to make it a happy time and enjoy!