Ho! Ho! Ho!

Well the Holiday Season is upon us. Christmas. Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah are right around the corner, Ramadan was back in September. All of these are festivals of light and new beginnings. It is a time when families usually get together to share happy times. It seems that cares seem to be less important once families gather. Of course, there is always one person that wants to bring down the spirit.
My memories of Christmas as a child involve a cardboard fireplace that was kept in the basement and reassembled for the holiday, and pajamas with feet, remember I grew up in New Jersey. Times have changed. As a child out Christmas tree would go up around the 22nd of December and come down after the first week of January. This based on the 12 Days of Christmas come after the holiday leading up to the Epiphany, the day the Magi arrived in Bethlehem. Now it seems that trees go up on the day after Thanksgiving, and come down either the afternoon of the 25th or the 26th. Seems to be tied more to the commercial aspects of the holiday than the significance.
With the economy in its current state, Christmas is going to be much more low key around the country than in the recent past. But is that really a bad thing? Isn't the holiday season more about togetherness than the price of gifts? Perhaps a family vacation is a better idea? Memories last a lot longer than gifts, and with on line picture galleries, photos can be shared with those that could not make the trip. Try Future Vacations, Damron Vacations, or Discovery Future Vacations for a last minute escape. I might only be for the long Christmas weekend, and taking the family car instead of flying. But it will still be a holiday to look back on and reminisce on long after the video game, iPod, or cell phone has been sold in a garage sale.
Have a Happy Holiday Season from the staff at job.travel.