The many faces of Christmas

It’s nearly here again, the ‘other’ great religious festival, of Christmas, which to many of the Islamic faith, is a confusing, sometimes contradictory, celebration, much less of faith.

I’ve been asked, “Why is Santa Claus the lead character at Christmas, if he’s not in the Holy Bible?” It’s a great question if we only consider the time of year as a religious event, however, Christmas has emerged from recent history as an icon of retailing, commercialism, and marketing, rather than the religious event it celebrates. But, more on that, later.

An encyclopaedic definition of Christmas is a Christian observance, when people of earlier societies would come together, ‘en masse,’ to celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus, thence known as Christ’s Mass, later abbreviated to Christmas. Ironically perhaps, given Jesus’s demise, it is believed to be the Ancient Romans, from two thousand years ago, who assigned the December 25th date to the festival, as it was nine months after the Spring Equinox. Who knew?

It wasn’t though, until more than 900 years later that the winter date, and its celebration, was championed, and it took until the 18th century before exchanging gifts, and thereby representing the gifts of the Three Wise Men, the Maji, became a ‘thing.’ Christmas cards, which appear to be almost unfashionable now, became fashionable from 1823, on the back of a popular poem, ‘The Night Before Christmas,’ by J E Luebering, which featured a new character, the mythical Santa Claus.

The Dutch are credited with deriving him from Saint Nicholas, in Dutch: ‘Sinterklaas,’ and took the tradition, now anglicised, with them, when they migrated to America, where the ‘New World’ Santa Claus himself was first depicted as a jolly, white-bearded, red-coated, bearer of gifts, by American cartoonist Thomas Nast, in Harper’s Weekly magazine, in 1863.

His caricature has been embraced by children for 150 years ever since, as living in the North Pole with Mrs Claus, a host of gift-making elves, and a herd of reindeer. Then, on Christmas Eve, he flies everywhere in his sleigh, pulled by eight reindeer, climbing down chimneys to leave gifts for children. It’s an impossibility, I know, but let’s not destroy all childish illusions too soon. They will grow up quickly enough.

I wonder then, if those children who are not left any gifts on Christmas Day are traumatised? Scarred for life? Research by the University of Zurich (2017), on identifying and evaluating the neural pathways heightened by the receiving of gifts established that children’s happiness is significantly elevated, which is exactly as we would expect.

In my personal experience, Christmas was always ‘better’ than a birthday... because all of us kids got to enjoy the giving and receiving as one.

But what of those who do not receive Christmas gifts... for whatever reason? Involved in child poverty relief, the MIND charity alludes to most children at risk being, “affected by, bereavement, poverty, family issues, being a young carer, and many other situations, that make them more vulnerable during the festive period.” Then, to not receive gifts, while those around them are, can be devastatingly harmful to children’s mental health and wellbeing.

I guess there is a glitzy not-so-appealing perspective to Christmas, in its overt over-commercialisation. But that is the way of the world, isn’t it? I feel it’s a juggernaut too big to tackle, because those drawing affluence and wealth from Christmas excesses and retailing would always perpetuate it.

At the end of the day, whether it’s Christmas, Ramadhan, or whatever festival, I’m all in, 100 per cent all for giving gifts, seeing happiness abound, hearing laughter, embracing, coming together as families or friends, enjoying each other’s company, because even if it is for just one day... it’s worth it.

I always have a ‘moment’ at Christmas. My father was born on December 25, and his name was Noel, which figures prominently in the etymology of Christmas. So, on that day I’ll take a moment to reflect on those no longer with me while celebrating it not as a religious event, but as a time to share joy. Happy Christmas, and goodwill to all.