As Christmas time comes around the corner, so does Christmas break.

This wonderful time of year brings the hassle of lastminute shopping and being pushed and shoved by those who are doing their lastminute shopping.

It is also the time of year when families get together to share presents, food, Christmas cheer and, for those that don’t have family, it’s the time of year to spend with friends. Friends are the family some people have. To join them in drinking a cup of hot cocoa, talking about old Christmas memories or even singing a Christmas carol or two, is to bring happiness to their lives. Without family, we are alone. No matter who we are, no matter how hard you try, your family is your family — love them or not, take them or leave them. They’re your family and always will be. When times are rough, they’re the people you can rely on, and are the ones you can talk to when there’s no one else to listen. There’s no love like love that people have for their family. Though they frustrate us beyond the threshold of sanity, we still love them.

Friends, family, significant others, spouses, pets and even co-workers get together to join their fellow Christians on this day that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.

Those that are not Christian will be doing other things, such as flipping through the channels trying to find something to watch or maybe just carrying on with their lives like we do during Hanukkah and Kwanza.

As some watch old time Christmas movies, others simply gather around the Christmas tree or the slow burning fire place. The snow may fall outside and, if we’re lucky, we’ll even start to hear the bells on Santa’s sleigh as he makes his around-the-world trip bringing gifts and happiness to all the good little boys and girls.

As this world keeps spinning, even on Christmas, we must remember what it’s all about. Not presents, not cookies, not Santa. It’s about being together with your family and maybe seeing a glimmer of hope that world peace will come around sooner than expected. It’s about love. Not just family love, but love for your friends — and love for that one person in this world that’ll make you smile even when times are rough.

That’s what Christmas is all about.