Metal Biker
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Christmastide does have a number of it's own traditions, obviously things like midnight mass, but sending of cards is unique to it.Christmas has a bit of something for everybody;
Christian traditions alongside Pagan traditions (and sometimes a bit of a mix of the two) as well as a few more recent introductions.
Time off work (or better rates of pay if you have to work).
Eating and drinking.
Gift exchanging.
Songs and films.
Bringing family and friends together.
Lights and decorations, brightening the darkest time of the year.
Lots of football.
The great thing is you can take or leave the aspects that you like/don't like.
Caroling is basically wassailing without the booze, natural decorating with lights is new yet still is inkeeping with the tradition of attracting the Landvaettir (hence the name 'fairy' lights).
I don't begrudge any Christian who loves the holiday, I just get irked by those types of people who get OTT when people say "Yuletide Greetings" instead of "Merry Christmas", or Starbucks cups not being Christmassy enough. It's everyone's holiday at this time of year.
The whole reason why the pagans did it in the first place, was to make everyone feel welcome, to connect with their families during the cold, and to spread that goodwill amongst others. Technically it begins on the last full moon before the Winter Solstice (so about Nov 23rd) and ends on the next full moon after the Winter Solstice (January 10th)
Two months of celebrating.