The roundabouts are being lit up. Driving through the various towns and villages one finds streets lit up and decorated. The good and festive feeling suddenly starts to creep in and one starts feeling better. People are ready to go the extra mile to generate a festive atmosphere. This helps all around. The pains of everyday life are still there, but at least one tends to take mishaps with a glimmer of fun. One can accept mistakes, while at the same time look more at the positive side of things rather than the negative ones.
This is usually a good month. Well, if something goes wrong in the family – such as was the case in 1977 when dad passed away – then everything gets messed up. Yet even then, with an excuse that our younger brother needed even more of the Christmas spirit – we still decorated with a crib and a Christmas tree. If events are destined to occur, they will. But then we have to move on.
Under normal circumstances, this is the month during which one tends to forget grievances, looks more at the positive side of things and revives lost relationships with a card or a small memento. It’s the time when there is optimal chance for family quarrels to be put aside, or possibly be solved. It’s a time when we put in that little extra effort to please others and forget our egoistic eccentricities.
Even with elections to be held, possibly during the first six months of 2008, this week the talk around town is of a different nature. At least it’s “How are you and how is the family” rather then the rhetorical questions of “When is the next election to be held” or “Do you think that we are going to win?” Of course I believe that, with effort, we shall win, but now it is Christmas and let us celebrate this joyous occasion.
It’s as if on the first day of the month, people get a good feeling jab. It is not the anti-influenza injection, which keeps you groggy for a couple of days, but a jab that gives people a good feeling, which lasts possibly to some time during the first week of January. It’s either because many envisage that they will be receiving gifts, or else because others find inner happiness in giving, that brings about this atmosphere. I tend to go for the latter as I do not really need anything special, except for those few intimate days with my family when we can spend some precious time together. If only those days could last a little longer.
On the streets of Valletta and elsewhere, the shoppers as well as the business community are at their best. The shoppers want to buy, but at the same time want their money to last longer. It seems that so many have a long shopping list.
On the other hand, the shopkeepers know that it’s business time and that a smile and positive attitude – even with the most difficult of patrons – will result in a possible sale and better profits. The busy bees are out, and each and every shop window is advertising wares which could have been disregarded during quieter days during the year.
Yet there are some who do their shopping with sense. Buying presents for the family and close friends tends to bend this way. At least at home, one tends to enquire what the family wishes or needs. It definitely makes more sense than to just go and buy a present for the sake of buying something. And then the receiver realises that whoever took the time to purchase a needed item for him or her, focused enough to show in a subtle way that they care.
Of course, I hope that on Xmas eve/Xmas morning we will all be at church. We must keep in mind that we shall all be celebrating the birth of our Saviour, and not just the receiving and giving of gifts. There we shall be celebrating the gift of life as it should be. In 1963, as a seven-year-old altar boy, I had recited the Xmas sermon starting off with “Annuncio vobis gaudium magnum – natus est Jesus Christus”.
Then there is another Christmas season involving the various charitable institutions that await our donations. We must appreciate that their recurrent expenditure tends to increase annually, due to the additional services they give, increase in manpower in their services, as well as an element of inflation that creeps in too. L-Istrina is on come the 29th of the month.
At the same time the Dar tal-Providenza will be holding it annual fund-raising fete. The political parties too are to hold their annual ‘marathon,’ during which they call up their supporters with the first bars of a Xmas carol, which goes something like, “O come all ye Faithful …..with your generous donations”.
Some people lament about the multiple demands made on one’s pockets, but on the other hand, all this gives the Maltese Nation the opportunity of coming together to help those in need.
If we are to spend our Christmas money, let’s do so setting aside some of it for those who have a greater need than I have for a box of chocolate, that simply helps my sugar level reach astronomical levels, or an extra drink that makes my head sway to non-existent virtual reality music.
Tony Abela is a Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister