If you're anything like me, you can feel it coming? the decorations go up, usually in the department stores first. Then the music starts being piped in and you find yourself singing the familiar songs that continue to strengthen the notion that it's almost here. And then it happens ? they start playing the Coca-Cola Christmas commercials on TV and it's confirmed ? the holiday season is indeed here!

During this time of year it seems that everything is somehow a little bit sweeter and maybe even gentler - despite the fact that there are so many things to get done, presents to buy, trees to be trimmed, cards to be written, and the list goes on. Underneath it all however is the true Spirit of the holiday season. I think it's why overall, we like this time of year ? people are nicer to you in the stores, even customers make the effort to be a little bit more patient when there are long lines. The holiday commercials on the TV capture visions of delicious meals, family and friends gathering and of course children eagerly awaiting Santa's arrival. Never mind that the commercials actually seem to start earlier and earlier each year (I actually saw the first one this year on Halloween night!) I like them. They represent the festivities and the spirit of the season to me and they spur wonderful memories of the years gone by.

And for me, in particular, no Christmas season would feel complete without one of Coca-Cola's Christmas commercials capturing the image of Santa Claus coming down the chimney to find an icy cold Coke waiting for him. The cementing of the image of the round faced, rosy cheeked Santa into our culture is even attributed to Coke from their pre-television print advertising campaigns. Then several years ago, the Coca-Cola Polar Bear Christmas commercials made their debut. Once again capturing family life at the holidays, but this time in the animal world with the beloved computer generated Coke Polar Bears. They celebrate their Coca-Cola Christmas bringing home a tree to their cave and sliding across the ice. They even borrow a bright winter night crescent moon to open their bottle of Coke. I personally love the one where the penguins are having their holiday party, drinking Coke of course, and boogieing the night away to ?Little St. Nick? when the little polar bear cub comes sliding down the hill into the middle of their party. Of course, the baby penguin offers him a Coke and the friendship between them all begins as we see them start to dance the night away. That is the meaning of the holidays after all isn't it, coming together in Peace and Joy?

When I hear a jingle on TV that catches my ear, it plays through my head throughout the day and sometimes even longer. I've even found myself humming the Coca-Cola Christmas commercial jingles out loud only to hear others around me join in or just seem to smile in recognition. I can't help but smile back. Who can forget the tune of ?Holidays are Coming? as the streets lit up with the Coca-Cola truck all aglow and decked out in bright lights? ?Fa la la la la Always Coca-Cola!? I don't know how Coke does it, but they find a way to remind people of the happiest times.

It may be true that the holidays have become much more commercial than ever, but I think the true holiday messages are there if you listen for them. If the Spirit is truly in your heart, you'll feel the holiday magic all around you. And like one of my favorite Coca-Cola Christmas commercials ends with ?Give, Love, Live? ? it's a good motto for not just this time of year, but all year round. From our home to yours, Happy Holidays to all!