In the Gospels called Luke and Matthew, the angel Gabriel tells two Jewish ladies, post-menopausal Elizabeth and virgin Mary, that they will become pregnant despite obstacles.  Their sons, John and Jesus, were worshipped from birth onward: John as a baptizer and Jesus as a healer.  How did Christians get from this story to the elaborate shopping, decorating and feasting rituals of Christmas 2021?
Peter Scales, a member of our congregation since 2004, loves the humanistic, pagan and historic rituals surrounding the darkest nights of the year.