Spread some Christmas cheer this year
Have some festive fun but also give a little back to your community, urges
Santa’s currently carbloading his reindeer and making sure the WOF for his sleigh is valid. If you suffer from Serious Noel Overload Worry (SNOW for short), this will be cause for concern. But if Christmas is by far your favourite time of the year, its imminent arrival will be making you jump for joy.
Regardless of what you believe about the stories and traditions that come with this time of year, or what religion you have (if any), Christmas is a great opportunity to have some fun with your neighbours.
School’s out, work has been replaced by long lunches and the sun is (hopefully) shining, which means it’s time to throw joy around like confetti and spread some Christmas cheer all over your community.
First things first, pop your head over your fence. Do your neighbours live alone? Are their families on the other side of the world? Have they recently moved to your neighbourhood – New Zealand, even? Deliver Christmas cards, drop off a pack of homemade Christmas baking, or squeeze a few extra chairs around the dining table and invite them along to your family’s Christmas Day celebrations.
Next, think about people who might not be able to celebrate Christmas the way you can this year. There are hundreds of charities and community organisations all over New Zealand that work hard to give every Kiwi family the kind of Christmas most of us take for granted. Set aside a portion of your Christmas budget or buy a little extra food next time you’re at the supermarket to donate to a worthy local charity.
SuperValue and FreshChoice have launched Give Local – an initiative supporting local charities by inviting customers to place non-perishable food items and health products into an instore food collection trolley. Charities such as City Mission, Salvation Army, Women’s Refuge, local food banks and church-based organisations also welcome food and gift donations to support those who experience hardship at Christmas.
If you’re big on Christmas festivities, organise a community BBQ at your local park and make it easy for your neighbours to get to know each other over mince pies and punch.
Your Christmas calendar is probably already looking packed, but check if there’s room to squeeze in your local Santa parade or carol service. These kinds of events take a lot of time, money and effort to organise so be neighbourly and go along to support your community leaders.
Decorations shouldn’t be limited to fake trees in your lounge; think about organising a best-dressed street competition. We’re thinking fairy lights festooned between trees, nativity scenes taking over entire gardens – you could even enter Mike
Pero’s Christmas Letterbox competition, in association with Neighbourly.co.nz (find out more information at neighbourly.co.nz/ christmasletterbox).
Christmas might not be your favourite time of year but it’s definitely someone else’s, so make the effort to get involved with your community this year – because even the Christmas Grinch discovered some yuletide joy.