Guest Author - Nicola Jane Soen

Christmas is upon us, with the shops, regardless of the credit crunch, advertising wares like there is no tomorrow. Chocolate Advent calendars, stockings, catalogues are all bursting full of what we all apparently need this Christmas, in order to ‘do it right’. Christmas is supposed to be, we are told a feel good, and bring good to others time; time of plenty, laughter and gifts. But like Dickens’s tiny Tim, for some it is not so happy.

‘Away in a Manger, No crib for a bed,
The Little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head.’ (And I bet he did cry too!)
(Author Unknown, First two verses)

Christmas has always been seen as a huge gargantuan affair for the English. Charles Dickens, ‘The Christmas carol’ immortalised Victorian views of the rich and poor at Christmas then and the spirits thereof! But what is it really like?

We forget normally why Christmas is, and the funny thing is we seem to have forgotten what Christmas is really ABOUT in our haste to tick off the present lists. The birth of Jesus Christ, God’s only son is what it is really about. It is Jesus’ birthday on Christ Mass day. Except in a funny sort of way his actual birthday was celebrated with the same kind of nonchalance about who he was then. No decorations, just cow poop and hay in a stable. No turkey, I guess either, but isn’t that how it has always been for Jesus? So why do we really choose to celebrate?

It used to be that the stable and Christ’s Mass took the centre more, but now it’s not so like that. Some celebrate the birth of Christ, but others, well, they like all the gifts etc. However, I would say many are disillusioned with Christmas. Its expense and gift for causing trouble between families is legendry. Having to get gifts for people you don’t see for most of the year, let alone socialize with, why? Not because we care, if we are hones; for some of us it is because we feel we ‘must’.

The pain and pleasure of Christmas dinner, with its stuffed turkey, that will feed 10,000, roast potatoes, parsnips, glazed carrots, Brussels sprouts with chestnuts, mashed Swede, Yorkshire puds, cranberry sauce and little sausages and bacon, and the piece du resistance, the Christmas pudding flambéed in brandy. This costs its hosts a fortune, in health as well as money! The poor host, up since 5am cooking, causing so much stress if it goes wrong.

Why do we do this? For a birthday of someone born two thousand years ago who we (many of us would say) have never personally met, we don’t even celebrate our own birthdays like that!!

Peace on earth and Good will to all men? Most of us are so drunk or overindulged by the afternoon, it’s only the TV that keeps the peace! The children are already saying, for some poor families what they did NOT get, or how disappointed they are. Baby Josie is more interesting in the ‘pitty wapper’ than the expensive three dimensional- knowledge-and-learning-all-complete in-one toy!

Auntie Nora is muttering that she nearly choked on the nuts in the pudding and Aunt Maud, on how, if she had been listened to, the turkey would have tasted so much more sublime and not nearly half so dry, although she knows you did your best, dear!. Then the joy of your little son Tommie, who has eaten SOOO much pudding, on top of the entire contents of his sweetie stocking AND dinner, throws up rainbow colours all over the new chenille throw, of a beautiful cream shade, that Mother-in–law treated you too this morning! AND had just informed you that she got it in John Lewis and it cost her a fortune, and how she KNOWS you will honour it with the utmost care, because, she mutters ominously SHE hasn’t got one neither has her daughter!

With enough wrapping paper to be a re-cyclers nightmare, and so much waste of Brussels sprouts and carrots that the entire population of Bulgaria could have lasted a week on it is a horror for those who think green!

The T.V has so many repeat films, that even two year old Lisa is tired of seeing The Little Mermaid for the Zillionth time by Boxing Day. And the Host just wants to scream TURN IT OFF!

So why do we do this? Is it because we care about that small, outcaste baby born over two thousand years ago, who claimed he could give us life forever? (let alone forgive the sins, of which have tripled since Uncle Sid suggested that the pudding tasted like an old dog slipper, still with Toddles dribble on!)Or is it because we need a day where we spend so much money we are in debt for the next five years? Or is it because we really DO appreciate a time to get together, with family (even if we don’t like them that much!) and spend time together giving and receiving and learning that love really is a gift and one that is not just brought with ribbons once a year? For all of us there will be different reasons. Some will scream indignantly, others admit a hint of truth in the reasons they give, but what ever the reason, it is a chance for all to learn that love comes at a price, of one thing or another.


This Christmas if you do one thing, ask yourself truly, why we are celebrating? It may change your Christmas forever!