Catching up on counting down

I really like Christmas
It's sentimental, I know, but I just really like it.
I am hardly religious
I'd rather break bread with Dawkins than Desmond Tutu, to be honest.

And yes, I have all of the usual objections
To consumerism, the commercialisation of an ancient religion
To the westernisation of a dead Palestinian
Press-ganged into selling Playstations and beer.
But I still really like it.
...

Tim Minchin - White Wine in the Sun

That song strikes a chord with me, despite being from the opposite hemisphere. I'm not religious. But I do like Christmas. I'm ok with that - I figure most cultures had some kind of festival or celebration marking the turning of the year. Mostly, I imagine, they would involve gathering with friends and family, sharing food, gifts, and enjoying each other's company. That's what I like about Christmas. Well, that and the tree and the decorations. I happen to have grown up in a predominantly Christian country, so I'm comfortable calling my celebration Christmas, even if I don't believe in Christ. It would probably be more honest of me to call it something else, but that feels a bit pedantic and churlish. Besides, most of the bits I go along with (like the tree, and the holly, and the food and stuff) aren't particularly or exclusively Christian to my mind anyway, so I'm quite comfortable going along with them.

Advent is a bit different though, isn't it? I haven't really figured that one out yet. We always had calendars as kids (always with pictures, never chocolates) and my children will have the same, I hope. And this year I've got us this candle too - mostly because I really like candles, as well as really liking Christmas. (We've burnt three days in one today, because we were away over the weekend. Hence the catching up bit.) But I do feel a little bit uncomfortable hijacking this bit of the Christian Christmas. Is it enough just to like candles?

Still, it makes a pretty picture.