Holidays are Comin'

Personally there are a couple of things that signal the true begining of Christmas for me.  The arrival on our TV Screens of the "Holidays are Comin'" ad from Coca-Cola, similarly the Budweiser Clydesdales and hearing "Fairytale of New York" on the radio.  So far this year I haven't seen or heard the latter two.  Does this mean Christmas is going to be less than before?  Is it that Christmas this year is so badly effected by the Recession that Budweiser can't run their normal ads and Shane McGowan and Kirsty McColl's great tune is dropped because it's not cheerful enough?

On a personal note, this will be a very different Christmas.  All of us are affected by the economic slow down and money is tight.  Presents will be significantly scaled down and even the feast that is normally Christmas Dinner will have to be scaled back.  All of my friends and family will be getting a tasteful email greeting instead of the traditional paper card, and many of the parties enjoyed in previous years ahve either been cancelled or scaled back significantly.

2009 has been a true "Annus Horribilis" for many people.  Unemployment has soared, the recent budget has taken from so many, particularly the less well off.  The prospect of a "winter of discontent" is being held in front of us by the various unions, and some people are looking into a black hole that is the future and wondering what's going to happen.

Traditionally Christmas is a time of great joy and celebration. For those of us who claim to be Christian, it is a time to celebrate the birth of Our Saviour.  A time of peace and goodwill to all.  When we greet neighbours we haven't connected with during the year like long lost relatives.  We greet people in the street that we would normally cross the road to avoid and we spend a fortune on food and trinkets that will mostly end up in the bin early in the New Year - along with those steadfastly made resolutions.

Christmas is the season of giving, and in recent times this has meant loading your SUV with heaps of shiny packages to distribute to family, friends and aquaintances over the season.  Even throwing that major party and inviting al and sundry to some and enjoy your largesse. This Christmas will see some major changes in these recent traditions.

Perhaps this year we might return to some old values. Giving doesn't have to mean material gifts.  Someone once told me that the greatest present is your presence.  With so many industries wound down or winding down, perhaps there will be more time this year to sepnd quality time with our families and neighbours.  Decorating the tree is a great tradition n my house.  I love all the shiny baubles, bright lights and tinsel.  But I especially love finding the decorations my four amazing children have made over the years, and remembering the year they brought them home from school and insisted they go on the tree. As they get older, these become more precious to me.

Spending the time this weekend to buy and decorate the tree with my children is one of the real pleasures of Christmas that I have been looking forward to.  There have been so many changes in all our lives over the last year, that re-visiting this tradition might serve to remind us all, certainly it will remind me, of what Christmas is really about - Family.

Yes, the amount of presents even Santa can bring this year is severly restricted due to recessionary times around the world - even in the North Pole.  The celebrations will be more muted as we remember people who are no longer with us for various reasons.  Memories, good and bad will be revisited.  We will hold in our hearts those we know who have had a tough year.  Those who have lost their jobs and their income, those who face losing their homes in the new year, those who have lost family and friends to tragedy and time.  All of these will be in our thoughts and prayers over this special season.  When I sit with my family to celebrate the birth of Jesus, I will be holding them closer to me than ever before.  Thankful in the knowledge that no matter what has happened, or what is to come, we are a family - together for Christmas.

I hope anyone reading this manages to have a happy, peaceful and love filled Christmas and New Year.

Nollaig Shona.