Thank God it’s Christmas
It’s that time of the year once again. Once December approaches, a new kind of atmosphere starts taking over.
“We are witnessing a strong campaign to stop saying ‘Merry Christmas’ and to replace it with ‘Happy Holidays’. The focus has shifted from the effigy of baby Jesus to the figure of Santa Claus, from the Midnight Mass to the annual holiday.
Out come the decorations, having been kept in storage for a bit less than 12 months, and we start shouting ‘Merry Christmas’ as a greeting towards those we meet. In my younger days, the biggest headache used to be the untangling of the Christmas lights and hoping that all the bulbs will glow once the power is switched on. The next challenge was bringing out the little statue of baby Jesus in a manger and hoping that he still had ten tiny fingers in his wax hands.
Things have changed quite a lot, but the spirit of Christmas still brings excitement and still softens the hearts, making us more generous and giving. Thankfully we don’t any more wait for Christmas to think of those in need, although it is heartwarming to note that initiatives such as L-Istrina have grown from strength to strength with the passing of years, alleviating some of the suffering of those going through difficult times.
The giving of Christmas presents, and the efforts to raise funds for the downtrodden, the ill and the lonely has its roots in the lovely episode when three wise men travelled long distances to fall on their knees before a newborn baby in a stable in Bethlehem. The episode has over the years provided a context for numerous novels, carols and children’s stories. The miracle of the divine nativity has inspired generations across the world and has for centuries been the centre of the Christmas festivities.
We have all realised that in recent years, there’s been a growing debate about why and how we should celebrate Christmas. We are witnessing a strong campaign to stop saying ‘Merry Christmas’ and to replace it with ‘Happy Holidays’. The focus has shifted from the effigy of baby Jesus to the figure of Santa Claus, from the Midnight Mass to the annual holiday. And one wonders, what is it exactly that we are celebrating every December?
It is positive that the modern world has brought cultures and religions closer to each other. We have learned to appreciate the beliefs and the customs of others without the need to be wary or to renounce to our own beliefs. We enjoy the celebration of Diwali with the Indians, in honour of the Hindu Gods, and we also join in the Muslim Iftar celebration during the period of Ramadan. Likewise, people around the world, Christians or not, enjoy the celebration of Christmas and make the effort to bring a smile to other people’s faces and to give hope and warmth to those going through a difficult patch.
Truth is that you don’t have to be necessarily a practicing Christian to celebrate Christmas. It is a world-wide feast embraced by people of all religions, and by those without a religion. The fact that it falls only one week before the year’s end and the beginning of a new one, makes it easy to get it packaged as one end of year celebration. It remains however, the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Nothing can or should change that. Otherwise there will be no real meaning left in all of our Christmas celebrations. It would be like turning up for a person’s birthday party and refusing to recognise that essential fact while still trying to enjoy the party!
And so, while dreaming of sleigh bells in the snow and of chestnuts roasting on an open fire, and while indulging in Christmas cake and mince pies, let’s not forget that we are feasting a newborn baby who came to bring about our salvation, and who went on to give up his life for the sake of all of us.
Merry Christmas to all.