Mystery Sign Theater 3000, Wednesday Afternoon

[spin_kick_snap]

It was December now, which meant that it was officially time to get into the Christmas spirit! And Kathy could think of no better way to do that than by introducing people to some of the Christmas classics--on the big screen no less! Today, the theater was showing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Santa hat firmly on her head, Kathy was prepared to

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[not_every_mage]

Anders pushed his hat out of his face, scrunching his nose impatiently as he did. He didn't mind the hat so much, but he wished it would stay out of his eyes.

"Good, because I didn't understand it at all last year," he said, with a little laugh. "I got that somebody brings gift because somebody else was born in a manger. Which doesn't make any sense, by the way."

[spin_kick_snap]

"Which part? The getting presents bit or the being born in a manger?" Kathy asked, signaling for more butter. Even if they were only going to be here for an hour, there was no point in not trying for a snack-induced heart attack. "Because the second one was an accident, pretty much. Everywhere else was full."

[not_every_mage]

Anders watched the attendant add the butter, and tapped the case to ask for some M&Ms as well. Popcorn was just better with chocolate.

"No, I understand that," he said. "But I don't understand why one person being born means other people give gifts. We don't give presents on Andraste's birthday."

[spin_kick_snap]

Anders had an excellent point. At least about chocolate and popcorn.

"But think of how much better her birthday would be if you did," Kathy suggested cheerfully. Though Anders had asked a real question and deserved a real answer for it. "My guess though is it's a mix of reasons. The story of Jesus's birth involve three wise men traveling from afar to find him and giving him gifts once they got there. Also, when Christianity was spreading, they coopted a lot of pagan celebrations to make it people want to convert. Odds are good that at least some of the midwinter holidays it incorporated involved gift-giving, so early Christians were just, 'Oh, you give presents? Cool, cool, we do that too, but to celebrate Christ not the pagan goddess Wulfa.'" She dimpled at him. "Christians. We're just like you."