Anticipation builds flocking for gifts. Festive chorus' build tempo, surging excitement, pushing through crowds, dashing for the checkout. It's a race for baubles, tinsel, and lights; candy canes and chocolates.

Radio and TV - reminders of the season, fill stale air with sweet chocolate, eggnog, and cinnamon. Multitudes of gift-wrap beget the annual search for scissors and tape.

Living rooms swap shoes and bags for trees, and bowed boxes, lunchboxes for candy canes and popcorn garlands. Neighbours compete with lights and inflatables.

Families gather for a single day, eating, laughing. Celebrating.

Another year, another Christmas, finally over.

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