dhw: Ten years ago I penned the following at Christmas time. I think most of it still applies!

Whether you're burning puddings, candles,
Midnight oil or joss sticks,
Whether you're theists, atheists,
Panentheists or agnostics,
Whether you're tucked up snug indoors -
While the outside world is storming ...
Or shivering in the icy blasts
(Produced by global warming?),
Whether you're terrified by Teheran
And a nuclear Iran,
Or wondering how we'll ever leave
Iraq, Afghanistan,
Whether banks and politicians
Drive you to depression,
Or you trust their selfless love
To end this grim recession,
Anything that cheers us up
Must be a good idea,
So Merry Christmas, everyone,
And have a great New Year.

The world never changes. But we can.

Whether you're burning puddings, candles,
Midnight oil or joss sticks,
Whether you're theists, atheists,
Panentheists or agnostics,
Whether you're tucked up snug indoors -
While the outside world is storming ...
Or shivering in the icy blasts
(Produced by global warming?),
Whether you're terrified by Teheran
And a nuclear Iran,
Or wondering how we'll ever leave
Iraq, Afghanistan,
Whether banks and politicians
Drive you to depression,
Or you trust their selfless love
To end this grim recession,
Anything that cheers us up
Must be a good idea,
So Merry Christmas, everyone,
And have a great New Year.