mediterranean holiday

It is warm and rainy today; across the way from my window is a mediterranean style apartment complex, with lemon trees, olive trees, red tile roofs, glimpses of the courtyard fountain through the trees. California winters are an odd mix of seasons and latitudes--fallen leaves, low-hanging clouds, crimson and amber on the oaks and maples, saturated greens on the citrus and cedars. And California lacks the gung-ho holiday spirit of the east coast--it is rare, the shop window or home with holiday decorations. This is right up my alley: I kind of loathe this season--mostly because of the rampant consumerism that defines the American version, but also because of the monopoly of Christmas over any other religious or spiritual or pagan or seasonal association to this time of year. Bring back the yule of pagan mythology!