Radix and Persephone used to always celebrate Christmas with Persephone's weird family. Not that Radix's family weren't weird, but they're Jewish. So thank god that was one less thing to deal with during the holidays, because Persephone's family had a lot going on.
Persephone's father was so super religious that he didn't believe in Christmas. What he believed was that he had calculated the actual date of Christ's birth, and that this was some time in July. Obviously.
Also Persephone's sister tended to volunteer to work on Christmas, so we finally moved the whole damn celebration to New Year's Day. Still it's a nice thing to get together with your family and to give presents, even though you have to shout "Happy New Year" instead of "Merry Christmas." Then Persephone's two sisters decided amongst themselves that there would be no more presents. Except for the kids, their mom added as an afterthought.
"Thank god," said Radix to that. "Christmas is a pain in the ass."
Well, Persephone liked Christmas. With presents. What could she do, though? She was already outvoted by her sisters. She didn't know yet that only having to buy two presents is the best thing ever. And she was hardly going to demand that people give her presents, if they didn't want to in their hearts. She isn't that kind of person. She wants people to want to.
So then it was Christmas, and there was nothing to do. Radix was happy. "There should be nothing special about Christmas. It should just be an ordinary day."
Persephone locked herself in the bathroom and had hysterics. When Persephone has hysterics, it is not a joke. Radix thought that he was going to have to take the hinges off the bathroom door. Or hop on a bus. Or you know, get divorced.
When Persephone finally came out of the bathroom, Radix shakily agreed that there would be some winter celebration chez Munt from then on. Something that respected his feelings as a Jew and that provided her with the feeling of celebration from her childhood Christmases, minus the alcoholic shouting.
"I want it to be like Kwanzaa," she sniffled.
"But we're not black," Radix protested.
Persephone said very crossly, "It wouldn't be Kwanzaa. It would be like Kwanzaa. Like Kwanzaa goes from Christmas to New Year. Except I want it to start on the solstice. And I want to eat fried food, like for Hanukkah."
And a few minutes later, they came up with the name for this new winter festival.
The Schedule of Winterval (a work in progress)
- Winterval Advent, the day after Thanksgiving - HATS ON, eight presents
- Erev Winterval, 12/20 evening or whenever convenient - LIGHTS ON, potato pancakes, applesauce and sour cream
- Winter Solstice, 12/21
- Xmas Eve, 12/24 - Chinese takeout
- Xmas Day, 12/25 - leftover Chinese takeout, sweetie present
- Boxing Week, 12/26-1/30 - go room by room and throw stuff out
- NY Eve, 12/31 - catch as catch can
- NY Day, 1/1 - hoppin' john, greens, and cornbread, LIGHTS OFF
- Winterval Epiphany, first Monday after NY Day - HATS OFF
