Regardless of one's religion - or lack of one - it behooves us all to recognize the symbolic pleasures and beauty inherent in a majority-religion's celebratory season that brings inclusion through its public displays of colour, light and exquisite music. Any who fail to be moved by the quality of the music written in recognition of this day, sacred to so many throughout the world can possibly not be moved by anything.

To listen, time and again, to Handel's unmatched Messiah, a work of transcendent musical mastery, is to be transported with the timeless beauty of the sound. The holiday of Christmas itself, in remembrance of a mortal imbued with immortal attributes by legend and divine belief, is one that asks of its celebrants that they be kind to one another, admonishing them to work toward the reign of peace upon this Earth. Who could quarrel with that?

Better to be one with society on this occasion, recognizing the cultural-religious-social vitality that lies behind the Christian belief in an almighty, and respecting it. From the perspective of another religion; Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, or any other religion, or as an agnostic/atheist, we should bow to the humble universal wish to be just and kind.

The mellowness of this season, imbuing all who care to join in the festivities, becoming increasingly secular in nature largely through its commercial aspects, is one that draws everyone into a jovial, festive season of light, colour, good humour, sweet expectations, and Peace on Earth. And so be it.

And look how Nature herself has finally agreed to co-operate! We've transited from the unusual weather condition of no snow at all up to now this winter, to gently mild snowfalls in the two days running up to December 25.

And when December 25 dawned, it was light and white with falling snow.