Another way to see it, part 1

because he wrote it better than I could...

Xmas and Christmas
A lost chapter form Herodotus

     And beyond this there lies in the ocean, turned towards the west and north, the island of Niatrirb which Hecataeus indeed declares to be the same size and shape as Sicily, bu it is larger, though in calling it triangular a man would not miss the mark.  It is densely inhabited by men who wear clothes not very different from the other barbarians who occupy the north-western parts of Europe though they do not agree with them in language. These islanders, surpassing all the men of whom we know in patience and endurance, use the following customs.
     In the middle of winter when fogs and rains most abound they have a great festival which they call Exmas, and for fifty days they prepare for it in the fashion I shall describe.  First of all, every citizen is obliged to send to each of his friends and relations a square piece of hard paper stamped with a picture, which in thier speech is called an Exmas-card.  But the picture represents birds sitting on branches, or trees with a dark green prickly leaf, or else men in such garments as the Niatirbians believe that their ancestors wore two hundred years ago riding in coaches such as their ancestors used, or houses with snow on their roofs.  And the Niatirbians are unwillint to say what these pictures have to do with the festival, guarding (as I suppose) some sacred mystery.  And because all men must send these cards the market-place is filled with the crowd of those buying them, so that there is great labour and weariness.
     But having bought as many as they suppose to be sufficient, they return to their houses and find that there are like cards which others have sent to them.  And when they find cards from any to whom they have also sent cards, they throw them away and give thanks to the gods that this labour at least is over for another year.  But when they find cards from any to whom they have not sent, then they beat their breasts and wail and utter curses against their sender; and, having sufficiently lamented their misfortune, they put on their boots again and go out into the fog and rain and buy a card for him also.  And let this account suffice about Exmas-cards.
    They also send gifts to one another, suffering the same things about the gifts as about the cards, or even worse.  For every citizen has to guess the value of the gift which every friend will send to him so that he may send one of equal value, whether he can afford it or not.  And they buy as gifts for one another such things as no man ever bought for himself. For the sellers, understanding the custom, put forth all kinds of trumpery, and whatever, being useless and ridiculous, they have been unable to see throughout the year the now sell as an Exmas gift. And though the Niatirbians profess themselves to lack sufficient necessary things, such as metal, leather, wood and paper, yet an incredible quantity of these things is wasted every year, being made into the gifts.
(to be continued...)

~CS Lewis
The timeless writings of CS Lewis, page 505