The Modern Christmas – My Exception

I recently read a piece about Christmas in The Ocelot written by my friend Michael Bosley, not only did I read it but my whole family also happened to glance over the page. This sparked a rather interesting debate about what Christmas is and is not.

I will not go into details about what was said as that is not important, what is important (to me at least) is the divisions between what each person chooses to take from Christmas. I suppose you can pigeonhole people into set groups or make a Venn diagram of said groups and the overlaps. But to me, this kind of analysis is far too clinical for something which for many is about something intangible which deserves to be left unconfined by the simplistic boundaries of predetermined behavioural categories.

I have often been described by friends and family as cynical, jaded, pessimistic or even mean spirited. While there may be some truth behind such observations, I still regard myself as a realist that just so happens to see more bad then good in the world around me. However this time of year it seems to be the anomaly, the warming exception that keeps me from slipping completely away from the human race. This time of year seems to bring out the best in people, as cliché and cheesy as that sounds, I find it to be the truth, certainly more so than any other time of year.

Christmas is not perfect, it has its flaws which are mainly brought on by the imperfections in everyone of us. For instance the commercialisation of Christmas has exploited the expression of goodwill in gift giving, it also has a part to play in the wasteful nature of our society in which we now want the newest thing, items seem to have less relevance/thoughtful value attached to them and avarice seems to be a driving factor. But hey that is capitalism!

There is also so much moaning going on about the lack of or the promotion of the religious aspects of Christmas. This is from both sides, all that comes of this is unwelcome tension animosity and resentment.

Christians will have to recognise that the festival of Christmas has evolved to a point in which everyone of any walk of life can join in – and choose to not to participate in its origin (let’s not do the Yule debate here). Ultimately if anyone can feel included in the celebration and if it extends good will to anyone from anyone, what is more Christian than that?

On the flip side those who choose another path must understand that Christmas holds a spiritual meaning which is not there to be mocked or sneered at. It is after all one of the base celebrations of the religion which has shaped this country. While you do not have to believe in the religious claims around the virgin birth etc, you could find it easier to believe in the kindness and humanity which lies beyond the mountains of turkey bones and wrapping paper, everything else is superfluous.

So back to me and my exception, Christmas has an almost magical ability to make people act that modicum nicer to each other, which any other time would seem like a monumental effort (but isn’t). People tend to say please and thank you more, random acts of kindness from strangers are far more apparent, this passing on of goodwill is almost infectious, like the beating of a butterfly’s wings causing a hurricane. People are for a fleeting moment in the year that little bit nicer which when combined makes our world a greater place to be in. It is only unfortunate that this attitude is not carried over through the year, but it is encouraging that it happens at all.

For all my bile and bellyaching the rest of the year I stand defiant against the humbugs at this time of year, if mankind ever demonstrates its capacity for great goodness, Christmas time is the best example of indiscriminate kindness, love and humanity- in my prematurely world-weary eyes anyway.

Merry Christmas!