Mine and Peggy’s is a mixed marriage, born from mixed marriages. Within our children mingles the blood of their Ashkenazi, Irish, German, and English ancestors.  Some arrived on the shores of this country within living memory, others have been here since well before the Declaration of Independence.

Though we are an areligious household, our children’s faith heritage is diverse. For us there is no sectarian drama surrounding the Winter holidays, only more ways to celebrate the season.

Christmas morning, we will make the three hour drive to my wife’s parents’ house for the annual gathering of the clan. This affair takes place in a rambling Victorian house on a tree-lined street; a veritable Norman Rockwell Christmas rendering, made modern by the presence of of Jews and Muslims and Buddhists, all gathered to enjoy the warm tidings of the season.

For me, perhaps the greatest reason to celebrate is that the days are now getting longer. Unlike my wife, I am a creature of neither the night nor the Winter. I pine for long days and warm weather.

Nonetheless, there is a certain majesty in the quiet and cold of a long Winter’s night. In the crisp still air, it does feel as if something normally distant comes a little closer.

Where ever you are, however you worship, whomever you love; warmest holiday wishes from me and Peggy. We hope you make merry, drink deeply from the Christmas cheer, and sleep in heavenly peace!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 24th, 2008 at 12:49 pm and is filed under Blogging, Personal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.