I remember when I was 10 years old or so and didn't believe in Santa any longer my parents started taking me to midnight Mass. The church was candle lit and cozy and smelled like pine. I loved singing the carols and visiting the creche after Mass and greeting Baby Jesus. We would go home then and open presents and have snacks. The walk home from church was magical. It seemed that it was always snowing and I was excited anticipating my presents and how my parents would like their presents from me (carefully selected at the local 5 & 10--I guess that would be a Dollar Store now).Christmas day we had our Christmas roast and Yorkshire pudding then the neighbor kids would come over or I would go to visit them.
