before about 1900, no Christmas Carols were sung until Christmas day and no presents were exchanged until after Christmas, either boxing day or on the 6th day of Christmas when the gifts were given to the christ child.

So just tell everyone you are following the older customs and you will be correct.

I like it, it like it!!!<img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/bounce.gif" width=31 height=31>Go to work when others are off around Christmas (the place is empty and you can get lots done--or not<img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>). Shop the sales. Take off in early January when everyone's back at work, thus doubling the time you don't have to be around those people. Get social points at work when you say, "My church celebrates Christmas the traditional way."
<FONT size="3">Wyld, you are a genius!</FONT s>
Edited to say--sorry, Cliffite; you didn't post this, I did, on your computer.--Ceashel

<center><FONT COLOR="#000080">--- Edited 1 times, lastly by cliffite on Jan 03, 2003 ---</FONT></center>

Little Christmas is a biggish deal with Italian-American and Hispanic families around here. Of course, like Wyld, they have to celebrate on the closest Sunday because you don't get it off from work. I can see the advantages, but I'm sooo glad it's done, finished, over..bye-bye, Santa, shoo Donner, scat Blitzen. See you next year. The holiday fog is beginning to clear and I'm starting to chip away at the backlog of stuff to do. Of course, this being my second day of unemployment is helping with the catching up. I like this uemployment stuff. If Bob wasn't unemployed, too, I'd wait until the last possible minute before getting a job.