What is Christmas?

[greenmagick]

Hello.

I'm sorry if this is an awkward question but I don't understand this Holiday. I'm not used to celebrating anything and I'm not sure what I'm suppose to be doing or if I should be doing anything at all.

Are there traditions?
Is that why everyone is wearing red and white?
Where did the holiday come from?
Are there any plants associated to this holiday?
Why are there letters to this man named Santa Claws?
What do people ask for?
Are we supposed to give gifts or receive them?
Do all worlds have this sort of holiday?
What is Christmas?

[The writing trails off slightly as if she's been interrupted.]

Thank you for any help.

-Terra Branford.

Comments

[not_most_days]

Miss Branford,

Santa Claus is a bit unfamiliar to me, but there were some similar figures in the history of my world. Noble men, saints, real or not, who would bring gifts to the good children and punish the wicked. I'm afraid it's not something I looked into that much.

But a good many cultures in my world celebrated the winter solstice. It's the middle of the winter and the longest night of the year. But after that it's a slow climb back to the spring. As I know it, pine trees are often decorated for this, likely because of the fact that they remain green even in the winter. I'm afraid in my time in the warmer climes of the Caribbean I saw far more palm trees.

A good many people in my world also celebrate it as the birth of Jesus Christ, an important religious figure. The son of our God.

When it comes down to it, it is a celebration of those around you who you call friends and family. Gifts are meant to be given and received as a show of those bonds.

If you have any other questions I will try to answer them.

Yours,

James Kidd

[greenmagick]

Dear James Kidd,

Thank you for getting back to me. I do have a few more questions if that's okay.

How do you decorate the pine tree? Do we just do it outside?

Thank you,

-Terra Branford.

[not_most_days]

Miss Branford,

It can be outdoors or indoors, depending on the space you have available and how many people you wish to see it. The decorations I've seen are ones that are often very colorful and bright.

Yours,

James Kidd

[greenmagick]

Dear James Kidd,

So the decorations can be anything? What about flowers?

Thank you,

-Terra Branford.

[not_most_days]

Miss Branford,

I don't see why not. I suppose they would be a good reminder that Spring is on its way.

I'm afraid this is not one I had the opportunity to celebrate in my adulthood. I suppose I've missed out a bit.

Yours,
James Kidd

[greenmagick]

Dear James Kidd,

I'm not really used to this holiday either. I want to get a gift but I don't know what to do. I only have flowers, I could make something but I don't want it to be useless and simply get in the way.

I want the house to feel like Christmas and decorate but I just don't know how to do it.

Thank you,
-Terra Branford.

[not_most_days]

Miss Branford,

Ah I see. Well I think as long as you make your house seem warm and welcoming you should be fine. Think of all the things you want to see in the spring while we're still in the winter. Remind everyone what we have to look forward to. If you make someone smile then it will be far from useless.

I'm sure you'll do just fine.

Yours,
James Kidd

[greenmagick]

Dear James Kidd,

Thank you. I will try.

-Terra Branford.

[aero_dienamic]

Miss Terra,

I've gotten to celebrate the holiday a few times before, before I came here. It's not an easy holiday to explain it's origins or traditions, but I think I get the general gist of things.

It's a holiday in which you show love an appreciation for the people close to you. You get them extravagant or meaningful gifts to show them how much you care.

I don't know why on this day and not any other day of the year, but I think it revolves around some birth or some deity so as a parallel to giving gifts to that deity, you give gifts to loved ones.

~Valvalis

[greenmagick]

Dear Valvalis,

Oh, what sort of gifts?

-Terra Branford.

[It's a short note but it has what she feels is the most important questions now.]

[aero_dienamic]

Terra,

Just about anything that you feel the person getting it would appreciate. So it's different for everyone. For me, it would be something for my hair, or perhaps some of these windchimes I've seen for sale. Someone like my room mate Chiaki would like something to do with her video games.

~Valvalis

[greenmagick]

Dear Valvalis,

Thank you. I will keep this in mind then.

-Terra Branford.

[She has a lot to think about now.]

[theendiswherewestartfrom]

Christmas is a time of year where, for some reason, even if the skies have been clear for months, England gets invaded by aliens. We've just come to accept it.

(Mogwen crumpled that one up and threw it away, then smacked Jack on the head. Terra wouldn't get the joke.)

Christmas is the one holiday that extends out into every culture that Humans touch. Every time, every space, everybody has Christmas or something close to it. Winter Solstice, Yule, or, as they're calling it here, the Starlight Celebration. A celebration during the darkest part of winter, when normally, everybody might be pretty sad because it's cold and the nights are so long. So usually, there are a lot of lights or candles or public fires sometimes. It's really about everybody coming together, even when they should be fighting.

One time, on my planet, there was a war so big that they called it a World War. And, even though everybody was fighting, on Christmas, everybody just decided to put down their weapons and call a cease fire and have dinner instead. There was also a football game but I missed it.

That's really what this celebration is about. And, yeah, some people celebrate with red and white clothes, or trees with lights in them, and a lot of people like to give or receive gifts. But the important part is spending time with people close to you.

Does that kind of answer your question?

-Jack

[greenmagick]

Dear Jack,

It does, thank you very much Jack. As always you know just how to explain things to me...

I'd like to talk more. I think I've told you that there was someone that I thought I felt close too? I mean I do but I don't know what to do for Christmas for him. Should I do something? I don't think he likes the holidays.

It really sounds amazing though.

-Terra Branford.

[theendiswherewestartfrom]

Terra,

Well, Christmas is a good time to do something with someone close to you. If he's tricky about the holiday, it doesn't even have to be about the holiday, itself. Just tell him you want to do something special for the two of you, since everything else is shut down for the day, why not? Whatever work the both of you have can get set aside, and focus on each other. Just a dinner, or a walk in the city? All the lights are great to look at.

Don't let anybody else interrupt. That way, he'll realize it's for you two only. No extra pressure needed.

-Jack.

[greenmagick]

Dear Jack,

Thank you… I don’t know if I’ve even told you who it is… honestly I haven’t told anyone but I feel closer to you. At least about topics like this, maybe if you want to talk about it. I mean we can.

[Her sentences are very disjoined.]

Otherwise, what would you like as a gift?

-Terra Branford.

[theendiswherewestartfrom]

Terra,

If you'd like to talk about it, I'd be glad to talk it over. I might have already guessed who it is, there's certainly one hero that you seem to be spending more time with than others. [The sentence ends with a smiley face.]

But, if you don't want to talk, I won't pressure you for it. There's certainly nothing wrong with liking somebody, though, and if you want to talk, I'll listen. No judgement. Promise.

Presents? Hmm.

Something from here, something that I can't get on my world. Even if it's just something really simple, that's why I go traveling. To see things that I've never seen or heard before. I know that's cryptic, but in general? That's what makes me happy.

-Jack.

[greenmagick]

Dear Jack,

That's a little hard to find but I'll try.

If you know already then can you help me find a gift for him too?

[Presents are so hard to buy.]

-Terra Branford.