So What Are YOU Celebrating Then?

Years ago I was in WHSmith looking through some Easter cards, when the lady next to me complained "This is no good, these are all religious!" I said, rather more loudly than perhaps I should have done "But Easter is all about the resurrection of Jesus from the dead - what are you celebrating then?" She looked very embarrassed and scuttled away. 
I thought about her last week as I was looking through the John Lewis Christmas section whilst Bob was sorting out the replacement microwave.

JL declares there are four themes to their decorations this year, "these are Heirloom Splendour, Enchanting Tales, Worldly Treasures and Ancient Wonders, and each have been thoughtfully curated to add charm to the festive period."
I don't need any more decorations, but it is fun to have a look. Heirloom Splendour seems to baubles and wrapping paper [retro items like telephones and sardine cans], Woodland Tales is animals [felt ones, or decorated baubles, tableware and beauty products] Enchanting Tales seem to be mostly interesting shaped baubles - and Ancient Wonders include a wooly mammoth, a dinosaur. acorns, pine cones and more. But did they have any nativity crib scenes? [Sue in Suffolk is hunting them out for a friend's fundraiser]

Yes they did! starting at around £100, there is this porcelain Alessi model. Personally I think it is odd - particularly the smug baby Jesus standing up with his fingers in his ears. 

There is another more expensive Alessi range, and you can buy the pieces separately, like these musical angels [£34 the pair] and animals for the stable. 

I am not sure they gave much thought to this. Surely a Jewish stable is unlikely to contain a pig! So basically, any representation of the true Christmas story is not in the main Christmas section but round the corner in the kitchen/china area - and rather too expensive for the average family. Why not buy something much cheaper for your tree, like this felt Christmas Toilet Roll?

On our way home from JL, we stopped at Next to have as coffee in Costa, and I browsed their Christmas Shop. They seem to be fixed on Highland Cattle - decorations, tableware, bedlinen. If you have bought the JL loo roll, why not add a Highland Cow in a Santa Hat sitting on the toilet reading her book? 

My Christmas tree is covered in all sorts of eclectic items - a Maine lobster from Steph, a tiny Marmite jar from cousin Gillian, and a little glass sewing machine from Julian, the little mermaid Rosie and Liz brought me from Denmark. Each item has its own story of love behind it - but the majority of my decorations are angels, nativity scenes, or items saying love, joy, peace, hope etc. 

If your entire house is bedecked with highland cattle this Christmas, then I am just wondering, what exactly are you celebrating? 
And yes, there will be a candle on my Christmas Cake - it's Jesus' birthday after all!