Hey, its my favourite time of year again. Its time for holidays, shopping, tacky Christmas decorations in town, Christmas presents (ya ye!), Christmas carols, Christmas trees, parties, lots of food etc etc. I love it. I loved it as a child, I loved it as a young person, I loved it as an adult and yes according to some of you, I love it as a senior citizen!
One thing that unfortunately has gone out of the window recently are Christmas cards. Too bad not many poeple bother anymore. It seems to go out of fashion with email and sms/mms greetings. Something is missing I think. There was the joy of receiving a card in the mail that said: “hey I care enough about you to take the trouble to pick out a card, to write in the card a personal message and to post that card”. OK, ok cards don’t say that but I think that is what they mean. But times they are a changing and we have to move with the times. So I appreciated the sentiment by one of you who wanted to send a card from overseas. Hey I appreciate the sentiment! I know cards are not environmental (well some can be), but it’s only once a year right?
But what’s it really all about? Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping and partying, we forget what it is about. So where do I start? As a child, my memories of Christmas are intricately linked to 2 Christmas records which were my family’s favourites: the Do Re Mi singers tunes which I am sure you have heard being played even up to today. It’s a classic Christmas record which introduced Christmas classics like Rudolph the red nosed reindeer and I saw mommy kissing santa claus (which is a really weird song if you think about it). Love it!
The second is a more traditional classic: the 12 songs of Christmas by Jim Reeves. Its really old even by my standards. My parents loved it. In one of the songs, it presents an acronym for Christmas. And I think it is not bad in capturing what it is all about. Here it is:
C is for the Christ Child born upon this day
H is for Herald Angels in the night
R means our redeemer
I means Israel
S is for the star that shone so bright
T is for three wise men they who travelled far
M is for the manger where he lay
A’s for all he stands for
S means shepherds came
And that’s why there’s a Christmas day
So, yes it is a religious festival. It is a time when we remember that we are all human beings. And we need to care about one another. Put away the commercialised nativity scenes in popular culture and what do we have? We have a the greatest Christmas gift of all. A gift that represents the love for us by our creator. Let’s try exchange this kind of a love for one another this Christmas season. Of course we will fall short. Human frailties are a-plenty. And believe me, I know. But we all need more love in our lives. Let’s help share some.
Merry Christmas to all!
are you a christian? christmas has pagan origins.
Yes. I know. No one really knows the date of the actual birth of Christ. But I think it is useful to have a day when we remember and celebrate the birth. Thanks.