Yule, or Chistmas...whatever.. how can you not love them!?

However you look at it, it is such a very special time. I've seen recent blog posts/facebook updates about people getting angry over what to call it, or how they wish people good cheer, but to me it just isn't that big of a deal. This time of year is magical, and full of love and warmth however you look at it... or how you should be looking at it anyway! If the holidays stress you out, I personally think you need to take a step back and look at all that you have to be thankful for.

I personally LOVE the holidays. I start listening to Christmas music in early November. Last night a tore apart my home taking down my, what seems like millions of fall decorations (which have been up since Mabon), and replaced them with christmas decorations. My Christmas/Yule tree is decorated, and my christmas lights are on my house, luring the sun to stay with us a bit longer. My stockings are hung by the chimney with care (including one for baby in the belly), and my nativity set is proudly displayed in my living room. I have a mixture of religious winter holidays displayed in my home, but I personally like it and the fact that I am versatile in my own way!

A note on the nativity scene:
Being raised in a semi christian home, meaning we went to sunday school as children and to church only on holidays as young adults, I still embrace some of my christian roots. I'm not sure how much I believe that the Nativity story (or any of the similar stories in other religions) were actually factual, rather than mythological, but I still get a little sad listening to Faith Hill's "A Baby Changes Everything". Because if it is a factual story, heck, it sure is a sad and inspirational one!

I try to mix my Yule and Christmas festivities, but always forget that I don't really have to! Christmas trees, christmas lights.. you get the best of both worlds!!

Do you mix your holiday traditions? Christmas and Yule? If so, how do you do it?