...and, if they asked about christmas, i'd tell them the truth.

"christmas was initially a pagan solstice ritual, meant to mark the end of the calendar, and the beginning of the new solar cycle. the idea of the god-man being reborn is a common motif of rebirth in near eastern religious rites. a better way to think of it is in terms of the science of the yearly solar cycle.

(insert lesson about heliocentrism.)

nowadays, however, it's just a way to drive the worst aspects of the economy. i know your friends are going to be walking around with a lot of shiny things, but ask yourself: do you need any of those things? if you don't need them, why do you want them? seems kind of silly to want things you don't need, doesn't it?

let me know what you need, and we'll make sure you have it - regardless of the calendar date."