Since I started college, the Christmas season, previously warm in the presence of loved ones and magical in the glow of twinkling tree lights, has felt oddly disjointed. For one, as a member of an a cappella group, I start Christmas in October, before the rest of the world is even allowed to listen to Christmas music, in order to have a decent set prepared for our annual concert. Thus the Christmas season begins with a checklist: “Learn X songs in Y weeks.” (1) Then, the day