So many of the things we do today have roots in, or were inspired by, ancient customs, religion, or even more recent history. Take front lawns, for instance. We don't think much about the fact that lawns are as common as they are, but it wasn't until someone was inspired to borrow the idea of lawns from England, where the wealthiest families' homes had expanses of beautiful lawns, that American homes began to have lawns. Few of us look at our front lawn and think of England.

Holidays, too, have roots in the past or in the present-day religions of some, but very often, and much to the dismay of those who adhere to the religious roots of certain holidays, the meaning of holidays has been "watered down" or re-defined in a way that suits our time or people who may not share the religious beliefs of others, who more strictly keep certain holidays' traditional, religious roots. People who want to keep the religious meaning of some holidays often believe that only the religious among us should celebrate those holidays. Other people, though, believe there is something nice about celebrating a holiday, like Christmas, in a way that includes everyone, regardless of their religious beliefs. The "peace-on-Earth" and "goodwill" parts of Christmas can be celebrated even by those who do not share the belief that the birth of Jesus Christ is the only reason to celebrate Christmas.

Most holidays have been "watered down". Halloween has roots in religion. Its also a holiday when some people choose to emphasize skeletons, witches and zombies. Ever since my children were young I have refused to celebrate Halloween in any way other than with cheerful Jack-O-Lantern faces, cute Hallween kittens, mums on my front stairs and pumpkins from the local garden center. In other words, Trick or Treaters who come to my house will find that I celebrate Halloween, but I don't celebrate it the way many other people do. Some people do a similar thing with Easter, emphasizing the Spring aspect of it rather than the religious aspect of it. It is even possible to celebrate the Spring aspect and still pay attention to spirituality or faith without, when one's beliefs are contrary to the traditional/religious meaning of Easter, emphasizing that part of it. How many people celebrate Memorial Day with a barbecue but little thought to its real meaning? How many non-Irish people and Irish people wear green on St. Patrick's Day and keep some Irish bread on the table without giving a second of thought to the roots of that holiday? Both Canada and the United States have their own versions of Thanksgiving, and when people are vegetarians they don't eat any turkey on that day.

It isn't such a bad thing that holidays (particularly those associated with family gatherings and traditions) often become "watered down" to the point where they are no longer something only some people believe in but are, instead, something our whole culture can share. Sure, the original meaning gets lost over time and as more and more people celebrate holidays they may not have previously, but how nice it is that holidays can be shared by a whole culture, regardless of individual beliefs.

When my daughter was in pre-school I had to "dress up" some lollipops for the Christmas party. I didn't know how many children's families celebrated Christmas or how many families may have only celebrated Chanukah. I bought red, green, and purple ribbons and stickers appropriate for both holidays and sent in more than enough pops to give each child a few for their own holiday. My family is not Jewish. We had leftover Chanukah stickers, and my daughter asked if she could have them. She stuck them all over her ice-skating helmet and proudly wore it each week before Christmas. On the day Santa came to ice-skating class her instructor somewhat hesitantly asked me if we were Jewish. I explained the stickers, and the instructor explained how she hadn't thought we were Jewish but that she wanted to know if the Christmas celebration may be a problem for us. The point is I was pleased to have my little pre-schooler wear her Chanukah stickers so proudly even thought we aren't Jewish. How nice it is to do a little something for someone else's holiday.

When the trees on a town's common are strung with Christmas lights or when there are green wreaths with red bows on the doors of the town hall its the symbol of a holiday so many of us have come to share, regardless of our religious beliefs. With some roots in the idea of brightening up the darkest part of Winter, some in religious beliefs, and some in the idea of being close to family and friends and having family traditions, Christmas has any number of meanings for any number of people. When I hang my tradional green wreath and light my front door and windows with sparkling white lights what is behind those decorations is my wish to join with my neighbors in creating a little magic in those dark, cold, New England, nights.

Its the same thing when a town puts up a Christmas tree or lights or wreaths. Just as my cute Halloween kittens and mums have nothing to do with any of the religious roots of Halloween, many of the Christmas decorations put up by town or city governments only have something to do with the religious meaning of Christmas to those for whom Christmas is about religion. For those for whom Christmas does not have a religious meaning, the bows, lights, and trees on the town common or city hall grounds represent a community's coming together to share a holiday and a season that can, if people want it to be, be for everyone.

We live in a difficult and sometimes dark world. When people join together to lift the spirits of a community and share in the lighting and decorating of a season aimed at family and friends and peace on Earth its a nice thing. I can't help but believe - for those who do believe there is someone watching us here, on Earth - that He may look down on our towns and cities, see the lights on the trees and the wreaths on the doors, and approve - even when we all may have different meanings associated with the season.