Christmas decorations around Alexandria look especially beautiful this year, with so many families at home this month. I hope, however, there will not be a rush to tear down the decorations until well into January.
If Alexandrians are not familiar with the song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas," the holiday begins on Dec. 25, the first day of Christmas, taking us to the Epiphany on Jan. 6, when the three wise men arrived in Bethlehem after those 12 days following the birth of Jesus Christ. The four week period before Dec. 25 is called Advent, a time of preparation.
While it was understandable to be particularly excited this autumn and put the Christmas trees and lights up even before Advent began, that should not be a reason to cut the Christmas celebration short. Christmas should properly be celebrated for a few weeks starting on Dec. 25.
Please, Alexandria neighbors, leave your Christmas decorations up during the first part of January. Let's remember the reason for the season.
Kenneth J. Wolfe
Old Town