If you’ve turned on the television, opened a magazine or visited the mall in the past month, you know that today is Christmas.

It’s a day for children to enjoy that new Barbie doll or Tonka truck that Santa left under the tree.

It’s a day for sharing time with family and friends, sipping eggnog and munching cookies, even stealing a kiss under the mistletoe.

Sometimes lost in the excitement of tinseled trees and brand new toys is the heart of Christmas, one of the holiest days on the Christian calendar.

Today, we have asked three Valley religious leaders to talk about how they balance the religious and secular sides of the holiday.

Inside today’s Valley Voice, the Rev. Charles Skok of St. John Vianney Catholic Church, the Rev. Tom Starr of Maranatha Bible Church, and the Rev. Michael Sager of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church share their thoughts on how to keep the spiritual side of Christmas alive and well during an increasingly commercial season.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo