This is my favourite time of year. After the ruk-a-tuk that bombards the ears for the rest of the year, it’s a welcome change to hear soothing carols and catchy Christmas songs.
The weather also cooperates with that nip in the air which perks me up after having endured the energy-draining heat of the months before.
Of course, businesses like it too, since it usually means (but who knows under our present conditions) increased spending and a boost to our ailing economy. But we need to strike a balance and not be lured into trouble by advertisements which encourage taking bank loans to buy “everything you want for Christmas”, or to take items you can’t afford on hire purchase because there’s no down payment.
Let’s focus less on excessive spending to satisfy our wants and more on helping the less fortunate to satisfy their basic needs.
As the Sesame Street song says, “Christmas means the spirit of giving, peace and joy to you, the goodness of loving, the gladness of living, these are Christmas too”. In fact, often giving a little of your time means much more to many people than the most expensive gift.
I know from my own experience that there are senior citizens in nursing homes who hardly see their relatives, although they live only a stone’s throw away. Surely a regular visit is not too much to ask and would mean the world to them.
And just as we shouldn’t only be loyal at Independence, we shouldn’t have the Christmas spirit only in December. The Sesame Street song continues, “So keep Christmas with you, all through the year, when Christmas is over, save some Christmas cheer. These precious moments, hold them very dear, and keep Christmas with you, all through the year”. As far as I’m concerned, a gift exchange between friends and family should be a token of friendship and appreciation but, if as can happen these days, you find it difficult to think of something that would be acceptable, maybe you should consider giving a card that says you’re making a donation to a charity in their name.
People generally are becoming more and more self-centred, so teaching children to be charitable from early is important, as is demonstrated by the United States-based White Envelope Project where the family determines an organisation to give money or time to. A plain white envelope is placed on the Christmas tree, and is opened after all of the other Christmas gifts. Inside the envelope is a note which details the gift that was given by your family and the charity which was chosen to receive it. It might even be better for the children to choose the charity and personally deliver the gift.
Apart from the religious significance of Christmas, I think it’s a time for family and family traditions. My mother made sure she made jug jug, pepperpot, fruit cake, ham, pork roast, sorrel and her prize-winning bread pudding. She passed away soon after last Christmas, but I’ve put everything I learned from her into action this year to keep the traditions going.
Apart from culinary talents, she passed on her craft talents to her children and grandchildren. Now they’re passing them on to the great-grands. I’m proud of my niece who took her own nieces (aged ten and 12) home most Friday nights since the beginning of the year to create hand-made Christmas decorations. They’re really outstanding. Now they have their own tree decorated with hundreds of their own handiwork.
The passing on of family traditions and talents makes for closer knit families, communities and in turn nations and the world. As my mother would have said, “It’s ridiculous that some professional women don’t know how to boil water or hold a needle and thread”!
Something else which warmed my heart was two gentlemen demonstrating the traditional Bajan craft of coral stone sculpting in Warrens a while ago. The pieces being offered for sale were superb – from very large lamp bases to sconces and table bases. Oh to see this art in our hotels and villas, rather than mass-produced, imported items.
All that’s left to say is, “Leave S&P’s Christmas gift unopened for now, have a blessed Christmas and try to face the new year with a brave heart.”
Dr Frances Chandler is a former Independent senator. Email [email protected].
