Real reason for Christmas
Christmas, The Real Reason
The festive period has come to stay and has been accepted worldwide as a kind of holiday season. A perfect time to take a break from much of what life brings, the hustle and bustle of everyday living and the showing of love. But are we really at rest at Christmas?
As the wiki writer puts it;
Popular modern customs of the holiday include gift giving, completing an Advent calendar or Advent wreath, Christmas music and caroling, lighting a Christingle, viewing a Nativity play, an exchange of Christmas cards, church services, a special meal, and the display of various Christmas decorations, including Christmas trees, Christmas lights, nativity scenes, garlands, wreaths, mistletoe, and holly.
Christmas is far more, right?
Like a sunny hot winter day, it makes no sense if it’s not cold. Sub – zero thermostat in the midst of summer – the locals will complain.
It’s not enough to be jolly, not quite if it’s only shared with loved ones around a turkey table. If Christmas is gifts alone, what about the ultimate giver?
In a certain culture, they say a child who receives a gift and fails to appreciate the giver might not receive another. In other words, the giver may no longer delight in that child – although in contrasts, I know a Giver who never lose faith in the receiver regardless of attitude or lack of gratitude. So is the season a reason for gifts? If children only know Christmas as an old white-bearded man dressed in red tucks (able to distinguish between the ‘all year round’ good & naughty kids), how then can season of joy be used to punish the unruly?
My Christmas Story
Growing up, our peculiar family tradition was that every Christmas, every child will get a new piece of clothing to wear.
It didn’t matter if cash was tight or turkey was reduced to a swimming tail animal, we just have to have a new dress. Period! No debate!!
Plus if you’ve been extra obedient that year and most importantly passed your school promotional exams with exceptional grades, you can expect an over the top extra-special gift.
Soon, my expectations of Christmas was magnified beyond proportion and all year round, I’d dream of what piece of latest ‘posh’ branded polo I’d get this Christmas! Will it be Ralph Lauren, Nike or just the best Ankara money can buy? How will I look in it? Who will commend me in this yearly display of decking to impress? Who cares… its Christmas, I often conclude, confused at what the purpose of my day dream was.
