The true meaning of Christmas?

It bothers me that if you keep Christmas non-denominational you're not left with much aside from the presents.

I haven't worked out the answer to this problem yet, but when my sister suggested that, instead of drawing a Christmas card, I write a story, I thought I might give myself the challenge of coming up with something which captures what I think could be the true spirit of Christmas, without the baby Jesus.

We should take a moment here to realise that what my sister was actually saying was: face it, you can't draw, so while you might like the idea of giving your festive message the personal touch, the rest of us are wondering how we can politely not display your latest attempt at homemade greetings on the mantlepiece ...

Anyway, back to the case in hand. Walking in snowy Norfolk at the weekend, a story began to form itself in my head. (and by the way, may I add here that making up stories in your head as you walk sure beats worrying about work or Christmas shopping. From now on the moment some annoying niggle threatens to detract from a beautiful view, I shall be bopping it on the head with a 'once upon a time').

Home from work tonight just in the nick of time for a goodnight kiss and a wheedle for a story, I thought I'd road-test my new tale on my toughest critic. I won't tell it to you here - but in a nutshell I was rather chuffed with myself for using snow as a metaphor for the ephemeral nature of consumerism. But in a way I thought an almost-five-year-old might understand.

'But you can't bring snow inside mummy, it would melt. You'd have to have a very very cold room'
'Yes, yes you would. And she did. she had a very cold room'
[more story, at the end of which the snow does indeed melt]
'It's all right though because next time it snowed she'd have lots of snow again'

I'm getting the sense that my metaphor is just a little bit too subtle.

So this year, expect a card carrying the message:

Once upon a time there was a little girl who just wanted more and more stuff and refused to take no for an answer until her parents got so annoyed all they bought her for Christmas was a lump of coal. It didn't make her understand what Christmas was all about, but it made them feel better. The End.

Admire the view, and think of a story ...