And to think I had wondered about the spoiler...;)

I love the cold of winter, the end of the year, and the fact that virtually everything is completely dead of activity. The merchandising...not so much.

Three things are essential for me:

1. The soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas on indefinite loop which is IMO one of the finest albums of all time. I hope to finally obtain the uber limited 45rpm audiophile version this year.

2. For some reason my I always want to do my re-reading of the Sherlock Holmes canon at X-mas-time, with my Strand reproductions curled up in a big chair.

3. "Ihh weesh Ihh huud a million dolluurs." Flick the lighter currently on the Criterion LD. Also the Charlie Brown special and the Grinch are musts. Boris sounds exquisite on LD.