Make Christmas more meaningful by sharing with the impoverished
At a time when millions more in Sri Lanka have fallen into poverty and hundreds of thousands of children are facing malnutrition, Christians are having to mark Christmas in a more meaningful way and without extravagance.
Taking the true essence of Christmas into account, Reverend Father Shantha Sagara Hettiarachchi of St. Joseph’s Church in Pamunugama said: “There is nothing as good as the spirit of giving and caring for others, especially the impoverished, during the holiday season.
“People, including Christians, often associate ‘giving’ with financial resources, but there are alternate means of contributing to another’s welfare. Practising giving even when you do not have a lot to give is the true meaning of Christmas.’’
The Christmas season will pass, but for the underprivileged, their financial struggles will persist. The Pamunugama St Joseph’s Church has assistance programmes for low-income households. “We partner with local groups to distribute food baskets during the holiday every year,” Fr Hettiarachchi said. Such initiatives teach empathy, kindness, forgiveness, tolerance and sacrifice to those in need, he said.
Emphasising how everyone should be kinder to the environment at Christmas, most Christmas trees for sale are made of eco-friendly materials.
There are also families grieving with empty spots at tables; calls that will not be made where lavish Christmas lunches and dinners will not be possible for most.
G.A.Y. Sandamali, who comes from a family of five from the Pamunugama area, was waiting for her little girl to come home after school to pawn her earrings to put food on the table for the next few days, an indication that pawn shops will have more business until this Christmas is over.
“This Christmas does not look like Christmas at all. We worry if we will have food tomorrow,” she lamented.
Despite all that, the excitement and anticipation of Christmas were within sight in Ms. Sandamali’s family, a reminder of the importance of spending time with loved ones during the holidays, as The Sunday Times noticed a crib was being arranged by her children. “It’s important to me that my children understand the meaning of Christmas,” she said.
R. Raj Kumar of Wattala, who is a wholesale Christmas crib maker, said that sales have significantly dropped compared to previous years. “People often expect a lower price for handmade cribs when they are offered in a fixed amount. These are hard times for all. Despite the challenges, we avoid raising prices as it negatively impacts our business,” he said.
M. Naufer, a Christmas tree merchant in the Handala area, stressed that the profit from selling Christmas trees is not even 10%.
“Some individuals prefer a fresh-cut tree, while others find happiness in an artificial tree. Artificial trees are usually made from a mix of plastic, so they can't be recycled. Fake trees are preferred for their annual reduction in tree cutting, while real trees can be turned into mulch, reducing plastic waste in landfills,” he added. “Even wealthy individuals ask if the Christmas tree that we sell for Rs. 5,000 for Rs. 3,000,’’ he said.
Through it all, the lights are burning brightly. Carols are being sung. Candies, cookies and cakes will still inspire New Year’s resolutions. Through it all, we know we still have so much to celebrate as we remember the birth of Baby Jesus, who taught people how to love one another.
Given the economic downturn, Colombo's Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith urged Christians to cut unnecessary expenses, avoid debt for Christmas, and spend time with the poor, enjoying meals with them near their homes.
Catholic priests were sent word to plan on bringing affected families to church premises on Christmas day for a Christmas lunch.
On the flip side, a one-of-a-kind Christmas tree made out of living vegetable plants ranging from cabbage, spinach, ladies’ fingers, green chili, and lettuce that was set up close to the Presidential Secretariat only highlights the irony of a seasonal price increase in vegetables, which makes people, vendors and small businesses suffer.