Hanukkah, Advent, Christmas, Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa, Three Kings Day...? What do the holidays mean to you?

Spiritually, I love this season. (I am religious, which includes spirituality for me) The Christian church calendar has the season of Advent right now. During the season of Advent we anticipate Christ's coming. We anticipate both the celebration of His first coming (his birth 2000 years ago) and His second coming. I love Advent services and pondering Christ's first and second comings. I marvel at the gifts of God and His awesome love that He would choose to become a baby born in a stable. Advent is actually more meaningful to me than Christmas, although I like that also. Epiphany (Three Kings to some) is also special to me, more because of the completion and fullness of the Christmas season than anything else. Honestly though, while the Christmas season is wonderful and a good time to spend with family, etc. it doesn't really hold a candle to the Lent and Easter season. That is the highlight of my year.

To me, the holidays mean getting together with family and friends, sharing laughter, love and food! It's a time to thank everyone I love for sharing their lives with me and it's a time to make memories. It also means driving around and looking at Christmas lights, which is my favorite holiday tradition!

I am not very religious at all, neither is my family. We celebrate Christmas because that is what we always have done. We love putting up the lights, the tree, and going shopping for everyone. On Christmas Day we have a lots and lots of family over. I just love the holidays because we get to spend time together with family and friends.

I love the holidays....seems people actually make an effort to be NICE, to think of others...to try and make a difference in others lives.......just wish it carried over into the rest of the year. I know those that are on the receiving end appreciate the season for the help and acknowledgment that they exist....most other days of the year they are pretty much ignored. So for me, it's the simple acts of kindness that seem to run rampant. Happy Holidays Everyone! Pass on the good cheer!

to me the holidays is a way to bond with my family we all get together do our little part in making a great celebration and than we laugh and have the best time of our lives

I'm Jewish, so Christmas mainly has an "Americana" feeling. I enjoy the festiveness, Christmas songs, cookies and everything. For me it's just a nice time of year. I don't care about Hanukkah, but I have to get my nieces and nephews presents. I am rather neutral about the "meaning" of the holidays, but the holiday spirit is infectious.

Indie, As you know I am Jewish and my wife is Catholic. This makes for an exciting holiday season. We both respect each others religious beliefs, but that is not the reason. There is the fun of trying to budget gifts for family and friends. There is the difficulty of finding gifts for my wife of 37 years who when she needs something she automatically buys it. There is the beauty of the decorations around the city. There is the lovely holiday music. Most of all, I appreciate the extra friendliness of the people with their Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. Their feeling are deep and true and not plastic like I am fine or yeah when you ask them how's it going. Most of the year people seem not to care about other people especially strangers. This is the best time of year for smiles and laughter. I don't think it matters if you are religious, agnostic, or atheist the holiday season is still magic for all ages. It is almost like wondering when you are 60 like me if maybe, possibly, almost, there is a Santa Claus. Bill

To me, the winter holidays mean, the smell of hot chocolate, sitting by the fire with the wood crackling, reading a story to my son, rocking in the chair with a nice cozy blanket, eating scrumptious goodies, roasting marshmellows, hugging my sweet son, and husband, and laughing till our tummies ache. Of course all this can be done any time of the year, but the winter holiday brings more warmth to my heart, more of a giving spirit, and wanting everyone around me to feel happy and loved. I'm a very generous person by nature, and especially during the holidays, I like to give more of myself to my loved ones.

Spiritualy, they have really nothing to do with me, i just utilize this time to spend with my family. Everything is too "religi-lized" these days. it should be stopped so people can make the choice on their own, instead of doing everything mainstream.