It's strange to think that Christmas is nearly over. Just 24 hours of present opening, laughter, cracker pulling, turkey eating, game playing and Queen watching remain before Christmas is bid farewell, consigned to the attic until society does it all again next year. No more huge spending sprees until the last week of November. Paper dumped in the bin, presents played with before being discarded, turkeys bred on an unimaginable scale for next year's slaughter. Newer readers may presume I am the ultimate Scrooge, delighted to see the festive season vanish for 12 months. Well, you are wrong. Slightly.
I am the antithesis of a Scrooge. Scrooge hated Christmas, hated the idea of helping the poor at that financially tricky time. Only when he viewed ghosts of Christmas past, present and yet to come did he realize the error of his way, helping and celebrating with poor old Bob Cratchit. I understand that Christmas can be a difficult time. In my view, it's excellent that newspapers and magazines specifically support a charity over the Christmas period, encouraging their readers to put some money aside to help those more vulnerable. We should be proud of the compassionate country we are. However, Christmas is still dominated by expectations. Buying for everyone, preparing the food, decorating the home. The pressure placed upon individuals is huge, emphasised by the permanent judgement of others. How has it come to this? The meaning of Christmas for me is anything but materialistic. Over the years, society has formed Christmas around what you can buy. The death of local shops (the butcher, greengrocer, carpenter etc) has led to a rise in supermarkets and huge corporations. Obviously, these provide lots of jobs for people and (when paid) contribute vast amounts of tax to the exchequer. On the other hand, they see Christmas, like all other seasonal holidays, with dollars in their eyes. A money making machine. Again, this makes me appear against something I am not. You would think I am opposed to the capitalist system. I am not. It has many faults and must be regulated in some ways, but is far superior to a communist system, which would (and has been) inevitably vile, wicked and unequal. This has been shown time and time again in Cuba, the former Soviet Union and Venezuela. The loss of local shops, and therefore a decline in community cohesion, does sadden me. Advances in technology and communication has changed our way of life, which, of course, includes Christmas. I've tried to sum up what I think Christmas should be about in three words. In education policy, the three R's have often been promoted, designed as the main elements children should learn. Well, for my perfect Christmas, it's the three F's: fun, food and family Fun. Christmas should be a time where people enjoy themselves. Whether that's getting a bit drunk, watching a Christmas special or playing board games, the festive season is about unwinding from our stressful lives. Again, technology has meant we are far busier, eager to complete the next activity on our permanent quest to manage...life. It's a funny old thing. While I prefer to be busy and have things to occupy me, time to relax and forget stresses is vital. Everyone deserves it at the end of a year and means people are more likely to work harder in the new year. Provided they've not had too much alcohol, that is. Food, glorious food. Isn't it wonderful? I have never been a fussy eater and am willing to try nearly all forms of food. The more varied the better. Food at Christmas time is utterly pleasurable. Succulent roast potatoes, perfectly cooked carrots and Brussel sprouts, complimentary cranberry and bread sauce, filling Yorkshire puddings. You'll notice I've missed out turkey, as, for readers not aware, I have been a pescatarian since the start of the year. A Jamie Oliver style nut roast should be perfectly sufficient. Christmas should be a time not just to enjoy the food we have on rarer occasional (traditional Sunday roasts are non-existent in my home) but to appreciate the people who make the food. This leads me perfectly to my last f of Christmas: family. Surely, the key part of Christmas is spending time with those you love. This is normally biological family but close, dear friends can be considered just as much a family. Recollecting memories of the last year together, assessing the peaks and troughs, planning next year and relaxing are all elements of uniting a family. Sure, there are arguments and disagreements in every family. On Christmas Day, the extended family can come together, enjoy the day and feel grateful for the people they are with. I hope to have presented the idea that one does not need to have faith in order to oppose the materialistic, commercialised style of Christmas. As an atheist, while I believe Jesus existed as an individual, I also believe the true story of his birth has been, like many stories from long ago, fabricated. I've tried to purchase all my cards and gifts for people from charity shops and intend to do so for the future. This allows a balance of showing appreciation for your family, through gifts, and helping a charity at the same time. Despite my increasing disappointment at what Christmas has become, I have felt this year hasn't been overwhelming for commercialised Christmas. I don't mean this financially; sales may be at an all-time high, especially online. Instead, I don't feel overwhelmed or compelled to buy something Christmas related in every store I step into. I don't feel bored of seeing Christmas advert after Christmas advert, every second word related to this season on the TV. At college, we had a Christmas jumper day, which I enjoyed immensely. That was all and that was enough. I have attended some work Christmas parties, all of which were based around showing appreciation, talking to different people and food. That was perfect. I can't wait for Christmas day. Being with my family, eating food, seeing what board games there are, bidding Peter Capaldi farewell as the Doctor and staying up late. If you can't enjoy yourself on Christmas day, when can you? Conversely, Christmas Day may be financially relatively easy. The issue for some may be a deficit of social interaction, especially if nobody is there to accompany them. There is where I feel technology certainly has a role: listening to the radio, tweeting online, watching others. Everything in life: family, corporations, technology, Christmas, endless lists has its benefits and flaws. It is right the errors are pointed out and discussed. However, I hope for one day, people can relax, free from argument (especially over BREXIT), come together and remember to make the most of the little time we inhibit this planet. A massive thank you to everyone who has read my blogs over 2017 and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas. See you on the other side.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Author:Noah enjoys writing a blog and drinking tea Archives
September 2022
Categories
All
|