Let's rethink Christmas!

We came back from Bulgaria on Thursday 24^th September.  The next morning, we went out to get our weekly shopping and were horrified to find Christmas stuff in the shops/stores already.  What is wrong with people!  We hadn’t even had Halloween yet (although, I personally, don’t do Halloween) A full three months before Christmas Day was due, in the shops there were cards, decorations and the beginnings of gift boxes with aftershave, body lotions and/or perfumes.

I’m all for forward thinking and planning.  Indeed, ask my team of wonderful writers here on the Daily Mews website and they’ll tell you that I write to them usually on a monthly basis to give them a heads up of what I’d like for big notable future dates. But all the razzamatazz that Christmas has now become upsets me.  It’s so commercial and materialistic that the real meaning of Christmas has been lost.  In the melee of houses that are covered with so many lights that they can be seen from outer space, to the overdressing of Christmas trees, the mountain of gifts that children receive to the tables struggling to cope with the weight of all the food that is consumed (and wasted) don’t you think it’s time we rethought Christmas?

I often think back to the simple stable where a baby was born in poverty, among the cows, sheep and donkeys, the heat from their bodies helping to keep the baby and his parents warm.  That little baby changed history and shaped our lives today. Wouldn’t it be nice if – instead of thinking about how much we could spend on our families – we thought about the older person who lives by themselves who doesn’t have any family? Perhaps bring a plate of dinner to them and give them a present? Or the young family where money is tight – how about sharing our food with them.  If you’re buying fruit, buying a couple more apples, oranges, bananas, and so on isn’t going to hurt your purse or wallet, is it?

We weren’t put here for our own benefit.  We were meant to share our love, our time, and our talents with others so that they might reach their potential.  In so doing, we (hopefully) become better people, and that fully embraces the true meaning of Christmas.  

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