O come, Thou Day-Spring Come and cheer Our spirits by Thine advent here Disperse the gloomy clouds of night And death’s dark shadows put to flight Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel Shall come to thee, o Israel The presents have been opened. The food is eaten and put away. The grownups are starting to think about getting back to ‘real life’. This year I have found myself pondering the traditions and expectations of Christmas in a much more sober manner than in the past. I see my niec