Christmastide approaches

December continues its flight to the New Year 2015 at a rapid clip. Christmas Day is mere 10 days away by which time all of your holiday preparations are to be in flawless order. Much better to recall that Christmastide is a 12-day-long season and not a sprint to a finish line and so to celebrate it in a relaxed manner. For example, TGM sends his holiday cards after New Year's Day as it's still Christmas through January 5th. As a bonus,the cards as well as everything else are 50 to 90% "off." Long ago, Christmastide gifts were distributed on "Twelfth Night," January 5th Eve....with Epiphany following on December. Remember Epiphany? That's the day the Magi arrived in Bethlehem after a 12- day journey. They didn't jet in from the East on December 25th. So, consider reviving Christmastide in some way in your life this season.