Yes, I love the Christian message, and I also love the family spirit, the decorations, the music, the greetings and just about everything about it.

There are so many good memories of Christmases past and I love to keep some of the traditions going.

I was brought up in a Swedish American family and the church had many Swedes. The Julfest service on the first Sunday of December was the start of the Christmas season. It featured a St Lucia procession, with the candles in Lucia’s wreath symbolising the bringing of light into darkness.

The service was all in Swedish and although I didn’t speak the language, I enjoyed the familiar service and music each year. I was sorry to miss it this year as it was co-chaired by my niece.

Later in the month, Handel’s Messiah was performed and then the traditional services followed: children’s service, Christmas eve and Christmas day.

I know a number of people who always look forward to the production of the Nutcracker or A Christmas Carol.

Do you have special services or programs that you use to celebrate Christmas?

Many South American countries go all out with their celebrations. Venezuela at Christmas is no different. In Caracas in the early morning of every Christmas Eve, the city’s residents go to their church on roller skates! The city roads are closed to cars so that people can skate safety, then they go home to their Christmas dinner of tamales.

Many Londoners head to Hyde Park which becomes Winter Wonderland as they celebrate the holidays with one of the world’s biggest festivals.

The annual Christmas Festival of Lights at The Grotto looks spectacular. It said to be the world's largest choral festival but the spectacular light displays are beautiful and colourful with more than one million light and takes about seven weeks to set up.

I would love to see the Giant Lantern Festival (Ligligan Parul Sampernandu) in San Fernando, held each year on the Saturday before Christmas Eve.

Eleven villages compete to build the most elaborate lantern. These lanterns have grown larger and more elaborate each year and are now about six metres in size.

Sweden, Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Austria, and many more countries offer traditional festive Christmas market filled with food, entertainment, decorations, and of course lots to buy.

I have always enjoyed the Carols by Candlelight, and now Yass Community Carols, put on by the combined church groups of the area. It is a wonderful fun, but meaningful celebration that brings together a diverse group of people in our town. This year’s carols is on 16 December at 5 for 6 pm in Victoria Park.

As we plan for, decorate and enjoy this Christmas season, let’s remember others less fortunate and let’s remember the real reason for the season. Peace be with you this holiday season.