What i want for Xmas

Now, I'm not a big fan of Christmas, not since I resigned into atheism. But I like the idea of Yule or Saturnalia, or even Xmas.
This time of year was originally a celebration of survival. Yule is about the Holly king triumphant over the old oak king and the march of time. Holly is the revered plant here because it stays green throught the year. Heck, that's where the pine tree thing came from.

The Saturnalia was less about survival, but rather about a really good party, it was so popular that the celebrated day of the Christ's birth was moved to this time of the year. Most likely, the bible was hinting at the nativity happening in June, but there really is little proof. It was when the christians tried stuffing Jesus into this time of year that things got weird. they messed it up so bad that Christmas was officially cancelled... twice. It took a whole new country and a pretty baron calendar to get the ball rolling. The new US needed holidays and what better way to snub the red coats than to re-institute a celebration that they had cancelled.

Xmas, as we celebrate it today, has only been around for about 100 years. And much of the timmings have only been around 50 years. It is not a religeous holiday, it's secular, national, and all ours.

So, what I want for Xmas? Xmas. Not Christ-mass, Not Yule, not the Saturnalia, not Hanukkah, or any of these other religious holidays. i want a time of the year when people can be decent, and good, and giving to each other BECAUSE they feel like being decent, and good and giving to each other. Not because of obligations, or some dusty book, but ... just because.

but you probably didn't read this to hear my philosophy, you want a list, so here's my annual list, with a wide variety depending on your capability and desire:
- I'd like the troups out of Iraq, and back home by the 25th.
- I'd like the world to stop hating me because of my president.
- I'd like my new website to work as advertised, and not require clumsy work-arounds.
- I'd like a bank that takes money from me without calling it a "courtesy."
- I'm so jonesin for a video iPod... :)
- I'd like everyone who reads this to get up and go hug someone... right now... just because... I'll wait.
- I'd like my old Apple II Extended keyboard to work with my new mac.
- I'd like more fire people to read, and really try to follow the NAFAA guidelines.
- Okay, you're back, good, now I could use a hug too...
- I'd like to give my mother a red-headed grandchild before she dies.
- As long as we're at that one, I'd like a kid before I die... :P
- I'd like to finally put this sword in a sheath (long story, ask sometime)
- I'd like a good deal on a deisel car (I want to convert it to triple fuel)
- but most of all, I'd like a muse for my fire performance.