Christians, awake, salute the happy morn 
whereon the Savior of the world was born. 
Rise to adore the mystery of love 
which hosts of angels chanted from above. 
With them the joyful tidings were begun 
of God incarnate and the virgin’s Son.

Then to the watchful shepherds it was told, 
who heard th’angelic herald’s voice: “Behold, 
I bring good tidings of a Savior’s birth 
to you and all the nations on the earth. 
This day has God fulfilled his promised word: 
this day is born a Savior, Christ the Lord!”

Then may we hope, th’angelic throngs among,
to sing, redeemed, a glad triumphant song;
he that was born upon this joyful day
around us all his glory shall display;
saved by his love, incessant we shall sing
eternal praise to heav’n’s almighty King.

John Byrom (1692-1763)

Holidays are frequently times when people get trapped by the expectations game. Because everyone around you assumes that the day is going to be “really good,” “special,” or “fantastic,” and is constantly telling you to have a “merry” one, it is easy to assume that having a merry Christmas is an actual possession of yours, and if not a possession, at least a birthright. Consequently, the tendency is to sketch out in your mind what you would like that possession to be like. But it turns out, metaphorically speaking, that you get socks instead of the shotgun, or cookware instead of pearls, and the expectation lost is a set-up for real disappointment. This is one of the reasons why holidays can be such an emotional roller coaster ride for so many, and Christmas is no exception.  (Wilson, God Rest Ye Merry, 100)

Celebrate the stuff.  Use fudge and eggnog and wine and roast beef.  Use presents and wrapping paper.  Embedded in many of the common complaints you hear about the holidays (consumerism, shopping, gluttony, etc.) are false assumptions about the point of the celebration. You do not prepare for a real celebration of the Incarnation through thirty days of Advent Gnosticism.  (Wilson, God Rest Ye Merry, 89-90)

As the prophet Isaiah prophesies the coming of the new covenant, he does so with the image of a glorious feast. The feast is prepared by the Lord of hosts Himself (25:6). What kind of feast is it?  He prepares a feast of fat things, he prepares a feast of aged wines, of meat full of marrow fat, and then some more aged wines.  This is the picture we are given of the gospel – not a glass of room temperature water and a cracker. (Wilson, God Rest Ye Merry, 88)