No question this would be a snow-filled landscape for Christmas this year. People always seem to be concerned that the weather will go awry and forget its obligation to shower the landscape with fresh, white snow. In our 45 years of living in Ottawa we can, if we really strain at the effort, dimly recall one Christmas when indeed there was no snow, but it was an anomaly, never repeated since that colossal disappointment that likely took place three decades ago.

Still, the thought does linger in peoples' minds. Typically snow begins falling in the Ottawa Valley in November. Usually by the end of November there's a good blanket of it covering the ground and the ground indeed is beginning to freeze. But then, invariably there are breaks in the cold and the snow and milder days transpire, and with them rain to wash away the snow and thaw the frozen earth.

We've now acquired a depth of about a foot of snow at this juncture. It's very early winter, however, and there will be more, much more to come. My husband had to get up on a ladder and shove the snow off the metal canopy we've got over our deck. Before it was installed, instructions warned that over six inches of snow there was a possibility of collapse. We had that, and more, and roughly in the middle of that (we estimated) nine inches there was a layer of frozen snow, making the weight even more burdensome.

Footing wasn't bad on the forest trails once we launched ourselves onto them this afternoon. Gloriously bright it was, with the sun in full illumination, casting shadows over the snow, and little wind to speak of; not too cold at minus-7C. A perfect December 24, all told, and people we came across were beyond cheerful. Greetings went the rounds and best wishes for a Happy Christmas. It was as though people were floating on air, grinning and playful, companion dogs usually in tow or romping ahead.

Thoughts of sumptuous meals with friends and family lingering deep within; the imagination doesn't have to work on overtime, all one has to do is recall those scenes going back to childhood for the ultimate comfort of sentiment and anticipation. For some, when they return from the woods and open their house door, the divine fragrance of an oven deep in the throes of putting finishing touches to a Christmas meal would envelop them; for others that would be delayed to Christmas Day.

It is, no matter such small distinctions, the one day of the year that people look forward to; a cultural, religious, heritage day of celebration with its roots deep in memory, refurbished over the years, build-up to excitement and serenity of mind. At the very least, that's how we imagine it to be. Particularly those who don't celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday, but regard it as a public celebration of event of lights and colour, music and happiness shared with loved ones.

It is a time of celebrated inclusiveness, in fact.