I've been wondering...
When they say it is the most wonderful time of the year; are they actually referring to the week in-between Christmas & the New Year? Is that phrase really a reference to the week I've heard called "Twixmas" or simply referred to as the "In Between" where all awareness of day, time and place disappear into a hazy blur of rest, relaxation and a sense of freedom from the rules of 'normal' everyday life? I think perhaps they are...
There is no pressure to do, to give or to receive. These days are spent doing what the world calls unproductive ~ things like assembling puzzles, watching moving marathons, taking long, leisurely walks that have less to do with fitness and everything to do with the frivolity that the luxury of time has to offer. The kitchen is closed except for the occasional warming of leftovers as we coast off of the bounty that has been cooked and baked in advance. Cookies stand in as meals and slices of cakes and pies at any time of day are completely acceptable. Sweatpants or pajamas are only changed when a cleaner pair is necessary and our once full agenda is traded for an empty one.
This is the time to just be. To do the things you feel guilty for squeezing into your day when your normal daily routine is so demanding. It's as if it is the reward for surviving the hustle and bustle that leads to the holiday. You survived the stress of getting it all done and making it special for everyone. Now is the time to enjoy those gloriously glowing trees you decorated with so much love & care. It's your chance to bask in the unparalleled level of cozy that takes over your house every December when the decorations go up.
Yes, I think this is the week that they call The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...