Does anyone understand when Christmas is?

Donald Trump’s thank you tour has turned into a Merry Christmas tour where he surrounds himself with Christmas trees and bravely wishes everyone, not a “happy holidays,” not “season’s greetings,” but a full-throated and uncompromising “Merry Christmas.”

“And we are going to say Merry Christmas again,” the president-elect happily announced.

Special performance: ‘Walking with an iPhone in your hand’

When was the last time we heard a president stand up and boldly proclaim Merry Christmas? Actually, as recently as Dec. 2, when President Obama said “Merry Christmas” during the lighting of the White House Christmas tree.

And the year before that.

And, in fact, going all the way back to 2009.

But that’s not the point. The point is that every year, politicians get it wrong.

I happen to be Catholic, the religion that invented Christmas. And if you’re a Catholic you know that Christmas hasn’t started yet. In fact, we just completed the Fourth Sunday of Advent. This is still a time of anticipation and penance. We talk about John the Baptist and clearing a path for the Messiah.

But the Messiah isn’t here yet. Which is why at the Cathedral where I attend Mass there are no wreaths, no Christmas trees, and we have yet to sing a single Christmas Carol, and we won’t until midnight mass when it finally will be appropriate to say “Merry Christmas.”

Until then, if you want to see Christmas, you have to go up the street to Macy’s. Or hang around politicians.

Follow @http://www.twitter.com/thedaveross