Merry Christmas … or the Wish for Something Like ItSeason's readings, and a 2020 roundup, for a year that could never end too soon.

Thirteen of the journal’s best essays, “Dispatch” blog posts, and reviews as chosen by staff, internet analytic “pageviews,” and defiant relevance.

It was Christmas and Bobby was a good boy and we worked hard for our money. All of that must mean something. What is the point of a God and His Son if this hardship does not mean anything, you know, the hardship of this life, the grinding of it cannot be pointless, can it?

When did food move from sustenance, holiday ritual, and occasional treats to a consuming avocation with its own vocabulary, gear, techniques, and media? There are more devotees than most religions can attract, and their rituals are charged with significance.