Christmas is one of those holidays which means very different things to different people.
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It can be a spiritual time, a family time, a time for giving, a time for partying or a time for just over-eating... Most people (in those countries where it is the main religious festival of the year) find something to enjoy about Christmas, whether they are Christians or not. But hasn’t Christmas in the consumer age become just a bit too big? And a lot too commercial?
I think so. The secret of a good Christmas is to be selective. Here is my personal list of the things Christmas (at any rate, Christmas in Britain) would be infinitely better without. Let’s get rid of….
Fussy people don’t like trees that drop their needles on the carpet. Surely, in the age of vacuum cleaners, this is not a problem any more? Worst of all are those plastic trees that come with their own decorations already attached, so depriving children of the great pleasure of hanging the decorations themselves.
Replace with : Real fir trees, from sustainable forests.
We have sent people to the moon. Computers have changed our lives. On the Internet, huge amounts of information travel all over the world at the speed of light. So it shouldn’t be too difficult to put a few coloured light bulbs in a row, so they last until New Year without breaking down.
Replace with : Candles. And fireproof fir trees.
A stomping, two-chord song from the dark days of 1970s rock. Played endlessly in British pubs and on the radio through December. It is the musical equivalent of jumping up and down with heavy boots on and trying to drink beer at the same time. I remember once, at a Christmas party, picking up my beer and taking a sip - to find out someone had used the can as an ashtray. And this song is the theme tune of that kind of party.
Replace with : The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl’s Fairytale of New York : a great, soulful Christmas song.
While we’re on the subject of Christmas songs, let’s not forget that this sentimental 1950s tune is the biggest selling single of all time. It’s ideal for falling asleep in an armchair but finally just too nostalgic. And very annoying.
Replace with : Silent Night, a beautiful German carol known all over the world.
Doesn’t a computer decorated with tinsel, and an office with paper chains hanging from the ceiling, look just a tiny bit depressing? And office Christmas parties are worse. Under the influence of cheap wine in paper coffee-cups, strange things happen with the photocopier. Rude messages are faxed to clients. Most people can’t relax in the office. And those that can will probably do something they’ll regret later.
Replace with : an extra afternoon off work.
In Richard Curtis films (like the recent hit Love, Actually), it always snows at Christmas in London. The city is covered with a beautiful white blanket, the perfect setting for a romantic happy ending. What’s the reality of Christmas weather in the South of England? Grey skies with a good chance of cold drizzle in the late afternoon.
Replace with : Russian Christmas weather.
It’s a fact that we spend more time in front of the TV at Christmas than at any other time of year. The TV schedules are filled with old films, comedy “Christmas Specials”, soap operas with Christmas-related plots, and of course hundreds of adverts. Switch it off and visit your relatives instead.
Replace with : log fires, board games.
In Britain, the usual Christmas dinner is turkey with cranberry sauce – although ultra-traditionalists may prefer goose. Cranberry sauce is basically a kind of jam. We don’t put jam on meat at other times of year, so why at Christmas?
Replace with : No cranberry sauce.
You know what I mean. Adverts for toys on children’s TV. Department stores which put out Christmas decorations as early as September. The stress of Christmas shopping. Everywhere the message is spend, spend, spend. Christmas is a Christian religious festival, to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It’s not just an excuse for making money.
Replace with : Midnight carols at church, peace on earth, and goodwill to all men.
So that’s my advice. Avoid these things and you’ll have a good chance of having a truly Merry Christmas. Which is what I wish you now. And a happy new year.
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Do you agree with the author's suggestions? Do you have other suggestions? Send us your texts.
Marta Lluís Garulo writes “I think all this Christmas thing has got out of hand. People go crazy buying presents a month before the holidays start and it's not their fault, what are they supposed to do when the whole city is full of lights and advertising? You just can't stop thinking about that! Instead of having a nice time the preparation for the party has become a stressful time … I know that's just because we want to have the best party possible but is all this stress worth it? In the end we always have a nice time, with a lot of presents or with just one (at least that's what should happen). I think the important about these holidays is to meet your family and friends and wish them the best; of course it's nice to make them happy with a gift but it's not the point of the holidays! However I guess it's too late to change all this, nowadays everybody's (me included) asking for presents and we just don't think about what is really important. It's like you were born and have grown with this consumerist society and you are just adapted to that, you are not going to change it. However it's Christmas! And we can criticize it all we want but at the end we love it. Merry Christmas!”
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Marta writes “I don't really agree with all the points that are exposed in that article. I mean, it's true that nowadays the Christmas meaning has been modified from the original one. But it's normal as the whole society is changing.
Consumerism is growing and in those days even more and more, but I think this situation is going to explode some day not too far in the future. Too many advertisements, and too many gifts for babies who I'm sure don't even notice what's going on.
In Spain Christmas is celebrated with enthusiasm. We have the reputation that we are very keen on family events, and so it is. We like to have family reunions and chat for hours all around one big table. We can have a seat at quarter to two and finish lunch at 7 o'clock. Yes, we eat a lot. But that's another good thing about Christmas, I think. We eat and eat and eat as we think that we are on holidays. It's incredible how gyms are so busy after Christmas! We also can go out with friends and have a good time, not sit in front of the TV. I don't think it's fair to say EVERYBODY is on the sofa watching TV the whole holidays. I love Christmas, I love the family reunion, I love buying stupid things for people I care about ... I mean, come on, It's just an excuse!”
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Alonso Bertran Gil writes “Here in Spain Christmas is a very joyful holiday, although religion is very involved in Christmas celebration, and also capitalism, and I think both influence people too much. For example -and as the article says - TV: Why do they show us all those sorts of adverts just at Christmas? They take advantage of the festive spirit to oblige us, somehow, to buy everything they want. As a matter of fact, I think that Christmas has become an ostentatious celebration; we should try to be more austere when we spend our money.”
Frederic from Barcelona writes “I think that apart from our family or homeland traditions, it’s important to recover the spirit of Christmas, that is to share the good feelings of joy and peace for the birth of Christ with our family and friends and to try the forgiveness and reconciliation with those people who are not on speaking terms with us, specially those of the family. Make a list of them and go for it! Merry Christmas.”
Ahmed Ladjereb from Algeria writes “I am not Christian, but I have some Christian neighbours who invited me to attend a family party on December, the 24th. It was the first time I had attended such a party. I REALLY admired it a lot. The Christmas tree was the centre of the party. There was light, colours, joy and happiness. At first, it embarrassed me to be with that family in that specific situation (as I thought it was THEIR party; it happens just one time a year; it is a family reunion). But now, I really love Christmas. It was a happy coincidence to meet those people who, by celebrating Chrismas, found true happiness. I can't forget My neighbour's wife : Her eyes shone with happiness. And as there’s a first time for everything. It will be another time for another Christmas. HAPPY CHRISTMAS FOR YOU ALL.”
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Gulcin writes “I am Turkish and living in the UK. I am Muslim so I don’t celebrate Christmas but I like the atmosphere here. Real trees, houses and gardens are surrounded by colourful lights. People spend quite a lot of money to buy presents for their loved ones - family, friends etc. I think it is great but I think it would be even nicer if they sent some of their money to some places where people are in need of food or clothes. There are many people who suffer from hunger …”
Agnis Lim writes “I am Buddhist; we do not celebrate Christmas yet we exchange presents among friends and have a party for this festival. We enjoy it very much.”
Marija writes “In Lithuania Christmas begins on the evening of Christmas Eve. On that evening all our family meets together. Usually the mother and other women prepare a dinner of 12 dishes (I think it comes from Christian religions). These dishes can't be with meat. Usually there is a lot of different ones made from herring, also cold soup with poppy-seed milk. And you should try all 12 dishes. In my family we draw different lots to guess the future. And the next day we look under the fir tree for presents. After that we go all together to Church. I am not a great believer, but its like a ritual of our family.”
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Kirti writes “Christmas! From children to adults every body enjoys the auspicious occasion. It is not only the occasion but also we say good-bye to the present year and get ready to welcome the New Year. It is celebrated by people form all over the world. Of course the intention of the celebration is just to enjoy. And most of us forget the actual importance of Christmas. Our interest has increased in shopping, food and parties. I agree with the author of the article that we have to maintain the simplicity. Our young generation should not forget the traditional values of Christmas. Let us think some other way. Think that by celebrating any occasion all the people come together, share their happiness and keep tension away for some time. Though everybody has his or her own way of celebrating. Why don’t we find the mid way by which the importance of Christmas remains and also it becomes enjoyable too? Merry Christmas!”
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Rustam Kamberov writes “I am from Kazakhstan. It is a former USSR republic. Mostly Kazakhstanis celebrate New Year, but celebration of Christmas is becoming popular. In our country the celebration of New Year is similar to the celebration of Christmas in Europe. Usually people gather with their families, present gifts, eat homemade food and wish for the good dreams to come true. And we also decorate a New Year Tree with different toys and bulbs. As for me I respect the celebration of Christmas although I am not Christian. And I wish that everybody would respect and love people of all nationalities and religions. It is a little early but I would like to wish Merry Christmas to everybody.”
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Donatella Aigotti writes “Christmas is a very important day for the Catholic religion, and for the whole of Christianity. His followers believe Jesus Christ, born on the 25th December, is the son of God. People usually give some presents. Streets, shops and homes are decorated with lights and candles. Some people hate Christmas day, because they became sad, thinking about their solitude. On the other hand, there are some people who decide to spend the Christmas Day alone. On Christmas Eve my mother cooked us special meals, mainly baked cakes. She prepared excellent food for the Christmas lunch, when the whole family ate together.”
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Ines Aparici writes “Christmas is a pleasant occasion for me. It takes me back to my childhood, not only in my memory but in my sensations as well. Nowadays I live 3,000 kilometres away from my parents, sisters and relatives.
However I have a large family living with me in this part of the world. I live in Tierra del Fuego, which is located at the southernmost extreme of South America. Here I live with my husband and three children and they mean almost everything to me so it is not so hard to be away from all of those who I also love. Besides I have developed a wonderful friendship here. These friends are almost as my own family and although I sometimes can go back to my parents’ house, every year I chose to spend these special days in my friends’ company.
When I was a child, Christmas would mean the entire family and relatives meeting at my grandmother’s house. She would roast a special chicken, which used to be decorated with golden ribbons tied to its legs. There was plenty of homemade food such as biscuits, and deserts and lots of candy, almonds and nuts. There was an attractive smell in the air from the very moment you came through the entrance. An old aunt would cook some boiled eggs that were placed on a big dish wearing ears, noses, eyes and tails, looking like small white mice that we, the children, would fight for. So I will always remember it for its particular smell and taste besides the happiness the whole party gave us.
Today things have turned out to be quite different. Besides the fact that our enormous family has scattered all over the country, things have turned difficult between some of us. So although we spend these holy days away from our grandma’s house we do not forget about that nice time we once had. Anyway some of us still keep certain traditions such as a special dinner with nightdresses and home made food. And there is always a bright Christmas tree full of presents and good surprises at midnight.”
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Aily Tapia writes "A brief story about how we celebrate Christmas in my City
Christmas in Mexico City, is like a big party because a lot of Mexicans who live in the USA come to celebrate from December 12 until January 06, and is called Lupe-Reyes. We celebrate our the Festival of Lady Guadalupe on December 12 and we end the party on January 6th when all the children receive gifts from the Magic Kings (Reyes Magos), and we eat "rosca", which is like a cake, and inside of it if you’re lucky you will find a little boy that means that you have to make "tamales" on February 2nd on your own to share with your family, friends or co-workers..."
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Tatiana writes “Christmas in Russia: In Russia we celebrate Christmas and New Year and the latter is more popular because of restrictions during 70 years of socialism. But there are Christmas traditions in our New Year celebrations. The main one is Ded Moroz (not Santa Clause) who brings gifts for all and puts them under the New Year Tree. And one of the old traditions is when children come to every house and sing Christmas songs or carols, and people give them sweets and other gifts. This is called ‘colyadovat’.”
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‘grazynajastrzebska’ writes “I live in Poland and in my country Christmas is the most important festival in the whole year ... our traditions date from the 10th century, since we became Christians. I am not religious at all but I love decorating the tree and having supper with my closest family on Christmas Eve ... Christmas time is the best opportunity to meet your closer family and friends, impossible during the rest of the year. Season's Greetings! May you find fulfilment and enjoyment in the New Year …”
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Gulseren Yaman writes “I am a Muslim and we don’t celebrate Christmas but I appreciate Christians’ respect to their religion. Merry Christmas all Christians.”
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BuiDuyQuang writes “In my country Christmas is an important event. TV programs broadcast a lot of music about Christmas Day. At Christmas the Catholic people go to church and pray. The children receive a present from Santa Claus. So Christmas Day in my country is very interesting.”
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BBC – Ten ages of Christmas
BBC – Video Nation: Christmas
Christmas traditions around the world
Christmas carols online
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