Becoming festive

Well how flattering! Do you really think so? I suppose you must be right; I may be looking younger than I was. How kind of you to say.

It is, in fact, part of the process of my becoming; set in motion by your good self, sir.

Becoming what, you ask? Hmm. The effects of what I do are perhaps more understandable than what I am, in truth.

Tell me, are you familiar with that moment that many describe as - I believe the popular phrase is - "feeling Christmassy?" Yes, I understand that it's an ill-defined statement, but does it mean something to you? I see by your eyes that it does. In reality, very few people are as immune to Christmas as our famous Mister Scrooge was!

Further to that, do you find that some years have a different quality to others? Some more raucous and hedonistic, others more reflective, others again perhaps a little flat and lacking in lustre?

The reason is this; it is I who weave what you might call the spirit of Christmas. And the tone or flavour of that year's celebration is set according to the first person I speak to that year.

And this year, it's you, sir!



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