spirituality of Christmas

We at the Dorothy Day house had our spirituality night last night.

some of our sweet sugar cookies.

While making cut-out sugar cookies, we discussed how our faith and spirituality has an impact on the Christmas and holiday season, traditions and beliefs that we have, and that sort of thing.  I thought we had some really neat discussion.
Here's a hodgepodge of our thoughts, from what I can remember.

"Jesus is the reason for the season"
which can be taken a couple of ways
-fundamentalist attack on commercialism, trying to reclaim Christmas and fight Santa and all that
-less of an attack and more of a friendly reminder that despite the commercialism and Santa and ties to pagan traditions and such, without Jesus we wouldn't have "Christmas"

being better, doing good, helping others
No matter what your faith or spiritual background/practices are, Christmas seems to often be a time of joy, giving, and doing good things.  A great way of putting it, particularly from a not-so-Christian perspective.

family
spending time together
seeing people
being present
how we enjoy it, and how we don't always enjoy it

traditions
cookies
opening presents, and when that happens
going to church
where the festivities occur

anticipation
Advent calendars
waiting for the semester to be over
excitement, but hard to pinpoint the exact reasons

light
as a symbol
breaking through the literal darkness of the longest nights of the year and the figurative darkness of sorrow and despair in life
the coming of Jesus as light to a broken, dark world
the hope that light brings
the joy of Christmas lights and decorations, brightening moods as well as physical spaces

spiritual importance
little to none, now
hard to explain
less than Easter
hope
wonder in simplicity