The seasonal holidays are such great celebrations of tradition, but all the wrong traditions. Paganism? Christ’s birth? I think not. More like rationing, farming, and predation. (Check out Lammas, Michaelmas, and Martinmas). There are lots of “-mas” days we don’t celebrate!

I mean look at this progression:

Halloween: At harvest time, crows and orbweavers everywhere, play tricks on those that don’t share, but stay indoors at dusk because the predators are fattening up and the elk are in a rut. (This may literally have been raiding season, too, with the harvest coming in!).

Thanksgiving: Harvest is done - everyone eats.

Between then and Christmas: Various festivals of rationing (a new treat every day), hunting, feasting, sharing new winter clothes, and visiting family. (advent calendar)

Christmas + following 12d: A month later, longest night of the year, another series of meals and gifts with family.

Lent: Cold dead of winter. Hey, did you know starving is holy? Confess your sins in the dead of winter, my child. Pray.

Until we get desperate and start looking at groundhogs for signs of spring. (See also Candlemas)

Easter: After a long winter fast, take the kids, go gather bird eggs and rabbits to eat. Celebrate life.