The food. Tamales hit different around Christmas for me, New Year’s is menudo/pozole. I also can’t get enough of Christmas cookies.

I get to pretend for a little while that things are OK. All of the songs are really happy. I think I get wrapped up in the nostalgia and remember being a kid.

Time. My wife is a school teacher and I’m an engineer at a place that shuts down from Christmas through new years. I absolutely love having no schedule and just waking up every day with the kids and figuring out who were going to see and how were going to spend our time. It’s an absolute luxury and I love it so much.

The music.

Brenda lee, nat king cole, sinatra, harry belafonte, all made some incredible xmas albums. I play piano, and there are so many great jazz christmas books too.

Snow

And sarmale

Im going to agree with most that people who are into it put more effort into being cordial, next would be food and treats, then decorations, then sales so its oftentimes a good time to pick up something you need. I hate gift giving as an obligation though. I love when I can give something to someone because I saw something that really fits them and is relevant and that makes it so worth it. I hate a gift being given because its a time of year and reciprocity and such so it ends up being something to go to a land fill or such. When in such a position I tend to try and buy food or alcohol in the hopes it won’t be a total waste. White elephants can be fun when its limited to actual found items and I think oftentimes it actually ends up rescuing something from a landfill.

Some people are more happy this days, that’s good. But that’s all for me.

In the southern hemisphere? Summer.

It’s the best time of year, amazing weather, long days, warm nights.

I like that most people become a little kinder at Christmas.

Kindness towards others. Yeah there’s crappy humanity stuff like black Friday, but generally the holiday brings out more good than bad in people.

Drinking, smoking, eating, trying to forget my ex, more drinking, etc.

It’s like a regular work day, but coffee is swapped with gin, and emails are switched with cigarillos

The atmosphere in the air. Offices get quieter and shopping malls get merrier (assuming no crying children or arguing parents)

That it only comes once a year?

Die Hard.

Mariah Carey. All I want for Christmas is you is one of my comfort songs, it reminds me of so good memories. Sorry guys, I’m this person who listens to it unironically every year