By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – It is known to be hectic, occasionally stressful and sometimes over-commercialized, but the Christmas holiday season has various positive aspects that have a way of making people smile.

As the days headed toward the culmination of the season, last week L’Observateur asked visitors to its website to vote for their favorite aspect of the Christmas season.

It seems there are still quite a few residents of the region who understand the true meaning of the season, as roughly one-third of those who responded said they value the spiritual aspect of the season in the birth of Jesus. The poll only registered one vote for gift giving and receiving.

Another third of the voters in the poll, meanwhile, said they welcome the time off from work and school that the Christmas season brings. More than 20 percent of respondents said they favor the lighting displays and other decorations that brighten the season.

This generation has apparently moved on from the annual television specials that appear this time of year, as no one voted that as their favorite aspect of the season.

A complete breakdown of the results is as follows:

• 21 percent of respondents said “Christmas light displays and other decorations.”

• 33 percent of respondents said “The spiritual aspect.”

• 3 percent of respondents said “Gift giving and receiving.”

• 10 percent of respondents said “Holiday food and parties.”

• 0 percent of respondents said “Christmas television specials.”

• 33 percent of respondents said “Time off from work or school.”