List of Previous Titles

Sunday, December 27, 2009

That Christmas Thing!




The celebration of Christmas in the Christian world is a mandatory thing, or so it seems. It usually incorporates all of the family, whether near or far. If we are too far removed for actual visitations, then Christmas cards are the next best thing. Being a man I usually mail my cards on December 24th, but this year I had them all written and mailed by the middle of November. That was the one positive thing about being at home recuperating with a leg elevated. (I don’t recommend it!)

But Christmas is also the time of year when the suicide rate rises dramatically. Apparently people without families really feel the pressure of being lonesome. Ending it becomes an option worth considering.

I have lived through seventy Christmases and my experience has ranged from having been deeply religious and family driven to a lesser observation as the children have grown. There was a time when a freshly cut tree was essential for decoration, and presents were piled underneath for the daybreak discovery of what Santa Claus had brought me, and then much later for what I, acting as Santa had brought the children.

Now that has all changed with the passing into adulthood of the children who are all away and we are at liberty to greet Christmas with the minimum of exertion. Christmas has lost its magic, and what a shame. No special meal at home, (we went to a restaurant) no midnight church service, nothing particularly special about December 25th at all, except it was a sunny and beautiful day in between bad weather before and after.

However, I deny that we are turning into Mr. And Mrs Scrooge. We fully encourage young families to enjoy the occasion for the reason that it is intended. I particularly like the Spanish tradition of observing the 25th as a Holy Day, with gift giving left to the night of The Three Kings. In other countries gift giving has over taken the religious aspect, so much so that it makes something of a mockery of the whole event.

Looking back over the years there is actually one year that I can point to as my all-time favourite. That was the year when I was a child and my father played the role of Santa by going on the roof and stamping around and making animal noises. The next morning there was evidence that was left to be cleaned up. Us kids became super believers that year. We have never held it against our parents for being the first people in our lives to lie to us.

Season's Greetings everyone!

Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael