Roseanna Cunningham (SNP) Perthshire South & Kinross-shire

I know the updated rules for the Christmas period and the tightened restrictions that will follow will have caused further disruption to many plans, but everybody needs to be aware that these changes have not been made lightly.

With the way this global pandemic has impacted on all our lives, there is no doubt this will be a Christmas like no other.

Family parties, office lunches – even how we do our Christmas shopping – have significantly changed from what we are used to.

It is worth remembering, of course, that other faith communities have seen important aspects of their religious calendar disrupted without any easing of restrictions whatsoever.

Christmas celebrates the coming of Christ into the world, light brought into the darkness.

Many other religions have festivals around that same concept – Hanukkah and Diwali, for example, are both described as festivals of light and take place around this time.

Indeed, many modern day Christmas traditions are founded on pre-Christian festivities.

I doubt it is any coincidence that these festivities take place as we anticipate or celebrate the return of the sun and the lengthening of days.

Coincidence or not, it seems rather appropriate that it is at this time of year that we are seeing a beacon of hope in the fight against this virus with vaccinations now under way.

It is said that the darkest hour is just before the dawn so, however down you are feeling about the new restrictions that have been brought in because of the spread of the new variant of the virus, remember that glimmer of hope which gets brighter all the time.

There is an old Hogmanay tradition – one that can be practiced at home and in a socially-distanced manner – of opening the back door to let out the old year while opening the front door to welcome the new.

I don’t suppose many will be sad at ushering 2020 out of the door.

It really has provided us with the most challenging times, as individuals and as a society, that most of us will have seen in our lifetimes.

Looking ahead, I know that 2021 holds one big change for me on a personal level.

At the Scottish Parliament elections of May next year, I step down from frontline representation politics.

After more than a quarter of a century I will no longer be a parliamentary representative for this area.

It has been an absolute honour to represent the people of Strathearn and my thanks to everyone over the years who has made that possible.

However you are celebrating this year, I wish all the readers of the Strathearn Herald a happy Christmas and all the very best for the new year.

Light after dark Cunningham MSP

Roseanna