Christmas is timeless. No, that’s not a profound statement by me. It was my husband moaning as I removed the clock from the wall in the livingroom and replaced it with a large wreath when I was putting up the Christmas decorations a couple weeks ago. The clock has relocated to the kitchen for the rest of December and early January (or whenever I manage to put the decorations away), and my husband, who doesn’t wear a watch, is frustrated that he never knows what time it is now.

He does have a point though: Christmas is timeless. Although traditions do change and evolve gradually, they remain relatively the same generation after generation and the continuity of the trappings and traditions through the years is something that many of us appreciate.

For me, when the word Christmas is mentioned, the first associations that my mind makes are with light, colour and warmth. All three are tied up with Christmas for me.

When I think of Christmas, in my head I see black evenings illuminated by light: candle flames, flickering fires, a string of coloured lights winking on the Christmas tree in an ever-changing pattern and sparkling mini-beacons secured to the window frames. Then there’s the more subtle pin pricks of natural light twinkling in the sky above me when I step outside into our farmyard and, on the rare occasions when it snows, the sharp glint of shimmery lights flashing across the snow’s surface.

There’s also colour everywhere: the blue, green and red miniature beacons dancing on the Christmas tree; shiny ornaments in gold and silver hues; blue and gold glittering tinsel; striped candy canes and knitted stockings in various colour combinations; a vibrant red and green wreath on the door and outside red berries adorning the holly.

And there’s warmth: physical and emotional. I love the heat from a fire in the hearth, a steaming mug of mulled wine, cider or hot chocolate in my hands, the happiness a hug from someone I love generates and the joy of spending time with people I care about.

I enjoy quietly savouring these simple pleasures the season brings, the same ones that I enjoy year after year.

I think many of us find comfort and enjoyment in the familiar traditions of the season and this makes Christmas timeless for us. Last year in a Christmas blog post, I mentioned that the song “White Christmas” first became hugely popular in 1942. This was mainly because it resonated with servicemen and women around the world who were longing for home. It stirred their memories of Christmases past and this comforted them. This snippet of information about how the now well-known song rose in popularity intrigued me so much that I decided that I had to use the song in one of my future stories. The idea floated around in my mind for several months as a story gradually took shape. I wrote The Christmas Cure, a Short Read in The Yankee Years series, this autumn and “White Christmas” is at the centre of the story.

Christmas is nearly here so it’s time to pull a chair up to the fire and savour the traditions that you love. Family, friends and readers, where ever you are around the world, may I wish you a holiday season filled with all that warms, lights and colours your life this Christmas season. Merry Christmas!