December - Christmas Day

For thousands of years, in Europe, Scandinavia and around the Mediterranean, communities have celebrated life, and their survival in the depths of winter, with eating, drinking and other pleasures. There was nothing contrived, nothing artificial about it, just sheer enjoyment. Being a member of one of the simple communities that celebrated the winter solstice thousands of years ago mattered; if you weren’t part of a community, your chances of survival were limited.

Christmas flowers 2010

The recent movement to rename Christmas  Winterval or Festivus out of fear of offending other faiths is ludicrous. We celebrate Christmas in the UK because we are officially a Christian country.

Christians believe that Christmas should be about following the example of Jesus by giving of oneself to others, especially to those who are in need. Christmas, the season of good cheer, is all about giving, especially providing some assistance to those who need help for their daily survival and who don’t have the material resources to enjoy the Christmas season. This celebration through giving is part of belonging to a wider community.

to you all.

Stripped of the worst of its consumerism gone mad, Christmas is a time of peace and goodwill to all.