Among the “must reads” in any newspaper are the columns, letters to the editors, the opinions/editorials and classified pages. These features are the pulse of any community.

Over the weekend, we read two “seasonal” columns that produced smiles or outright chuckles.

Remember Ellen and Clark Griswold’s “good, old-fashioned family Christmas?” Beverly D’Angelo and Chevy Chase starred in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

Yesterday’s Lancaster Intelligencer Journal/New Era featured local columnist, Jane Holahan‘s look at the “crowded holiday season.” In “By December 31, the holiday spirit is gone,” she offers feelings that are shared by almost all of us.

“In this very crowded holiday season, we are moving from Christmas (hope you had a good one) on to New Year’s Eve.

“I am skipping Boxing Day, which is actually today, because, well, does anyone know what Boxing Day is about?

“Apparently, it’s some sort of shopping holiday in the British Isles, sort of like Black Friday in America. (Can you imagine getting a day off to go shopping?)

“Anyway, I’m tired of holidays by the time New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day come along.

“When you think about it, the ‘holidays’ have been in our faces since the day after Halloween, when all the Christmas stuff arrived on the shelves and the Christmas music started playing.” Click here to read her column in full.

“First off, Virginia, to be blunt, your little friends sound like real jerks.”

On Sunday (Christmas Day), we laughed aloud while reading York’s Mike Argento‘s “Maybe, Virginia, there could be a Santa Claus.” We think you will find it funny to read, too. Click here to read Argento’s “Yes, Virginia” letter.