The Christmas wrapping paper mountain keeps growing higher. Shining foil, patterned paper, bows large and small, ribbons of fiber and of fabric, torn cartons and Styrofoam packing shapes, are all stacking and spilling on one side of the living room. The children are shrieking with delight. They can not open the packages fast enough.

Suddenly the frenzy is over.

Christmas dinner or Christmas breakfast or a visit to the next house is on the menu. Hurry, hurry, hurry, the holiday so long awaited will pass so fast.

Toys are strewn everywhere. Several are already damaged.

A few were passionately hoped for. The rest are the product of worried parents, grandparents, friends and relations, who fled up and down the aisles, cramming shopping carts, asking themselves repeatedly,