For Christians today is the beginning of the Advent season -- the 24 days before Christmas. It is a quiet time, a time of hopeful anticipation.
When a person says "advent" the mental picture that comes to my mind is a night scene, a big, dark sky with lots of stars, a shepherd with his sheep -- it is quiet but there is a feeling in the air that "something" is going to happen.
I love the quiet reflection of the time, I love the feeling of growing anticipation and I love the feeling of gratitude that comes with knowing how blessed I am all because of that little baby in that hay.
Advent -- lighting the candles, building the creche, being thoughtful about how the birth of a little baby has such enormous impact on the whole world.
I love everything about it.