I feel similarly about the pagan-influenced shivery wonder of Christmas - waiting for that light in the darkness, knowing there is hope to stave off the death winter brings. One of the things that drew me back into church is the connection I feel through ritual to the people of generations reaching back to pre-history - we might not all have believed the same things or worshiped the same way, but the struggle to find the light in the darkness has always been the same.

Christmas is solemn and hopeful "we can make it" joy; Easter is triumphant, "we made it through the worst of the worst" joy. I am all about the joy.