The Christmas tree is one of those traditions that are rife with emotional imagery. Bright-eyed children descending upon it on Christmas morning. Families gathering round it on Christmas Eve.

When I was little, every St. Nicholas Day eve (a holiday we observed as Byzantine Catholics), all the kids in my family would gather at the fireplace. There, my dad would encourage us to say a Hail Mary with our eyes closed, after which coins would mysteriously drop on us from above.

This is the best time of year, as pretty much everyone (except a few Scrooges) can attest. The temperatures are dipping—at least they are at night if you live along the Sun Belt—lights are being strung up on houses and Starbucks has resurrected its holiday menu. Kicking it all off officially, of course, is Thanksgiving.