I like Christmas. I like it for the spritual significance of recognizing a miraculous birth in a time of darkeness and uncertainty. I like Christmas for the family dinners of roask pork, drinking sorrel and nibbling black cake while listening to Parang music.
I also see Christmas as time that people seem more gentler. At work, people exchange small trinkets between each other and enjoying the festivities of decorating our cubicles with cheap tinsel and greenery. I know that the bustle tends to turn people off but I sometimes wonder if people secrretly like the bustle. If they really despised the bustle, the would stop the gift giving and go into a hibernation until January 2. But they don't and they continue running the treadmill of buying gifts. I don't advocate the hustle but people should be a little more conscious of why they are partaking in the shopping. I try not to be taken up with the bustle by shopping early, keeping the recipient list small and keeping the gifts small as well.
I try not to leave out the people who don't celebrate Christmas. This is the sticking point in a multicultural society; how to you balance the desire to a large segment of society to celebrate a holiday without forcing those who don't share the religious/cultural impetus to celebrate. I guess the best compromise includes accepting the fact that some people don't want anything to do with Christmas while not putting down those who do chose to celebrate. It is a give and take that signifies a mature society.
Well, I must get back to decorating the tree and sipping some egg nog.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
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