Today week people would be in a festive spirit and set to celebrate. Many would be determined to be happy. Others will make an extra effort to look and pretend to be happy.
The RTK radio station broadcasters, station anchors and management will be switching off from their daily radio programmes schedule and preparing to lead the annual fund raising event in aide of the people residing at Dar il-Providenza. This is laudable and like many other volunteers, these people should be encouraged for their endeavours. When taking into account the huge operational costs of Dar il-Providenza, hovering around €3.5 million yearly their effort is more than necessary.
Similarly the Community Chest Fund l-Istrina event will this year bring down the curtain on nation-wide fund raising events organised by His Excellency President of Malta Dr George Abela as his term will come to an end early next year. His Excellency will be remembered for some hot potatoes he had to juggle but will be remembered mostly for his enthusiasm and dynamism in organising successfully nation-wide fund raising activities.
Since we live in a society which cherishes to help and assist those in need Christmas may well-be the right time to bring a smile on the face of those who may need a helping hand. In this regard, dear reader I would like to encourage you to spare enough money from your Xmas budget to allow you to make generous donations to Dar il-Providenza and the Community Chest Fund this Christmas.
Today week it would be Christmas Eve a day before Christmas. Christmas is a widely celebrated public holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. The dazzling displays of colourful twinkling lights in streets, shops and homes will continue to signal and create the festive spirit. Christmas carols would further add to the high spirits of the season. Many would receive and send innumerable SMS’s wishing and reciprocating Merry Xmas.
On Christmas Eve hundreds if not thousands will make their way to various churches across the islands late in the evening to hear mass. All churches will be well-dressed and decorated with flowers and the traditional crib uplifting the hearts of the faithful. Others would join friends and family members and head towards luxurious hotels and exquisite restaurants for the Christmas Eve dinner. The younger generation and the young at heart would opt to make a booking in one of the leading hotels for an early full Christmas day English breakfast after partying all night long at their preferred discotheque or nightclub.
Of course what we celebrate today and the way we do it is by far very different from the original story. However, the baby in a manger, his mother, joseph the carpenter, shepherds, wise men, angels, sheep, donkey and other leading characters of the first Christmas remain the leading characters.
This Christmas story has endured two millennia. This does not prove its truthfulness. Other stories and legends survived the test of time and kindled the imagination of many generations. Curiosity may provoke doubts amongst some and may need reassurance about the King story. I will not attempt to deal with doubts or give reassurances. This I will leave to learned theologians experts in church teaching. On my part the Christmas story is important because it speaks of hope, of survival, of peace and of goodwill.
This year, Christmas it is not expected to be any different from the previous ones. The same characters will once again play their role. In commemoration of that event, nowadays those with fertile imagination and artistic flair have prepared figurines commemorating the birth of Jesus. All figurines will be placed in cribs of all sizes made from all sorts of materials including plastic bottles and other materials. Products representing the times we are living in.
Of late life-size cribs are also assembled in some major arterial roundabouts notwithstanding that the baby at times is stolen and police officers called-in to investigate. This has more than one positive effect. Apart from reminding people of this yearly important event drivers may be encouraged to bite their lip when caught in heavy, dead slow moving traffic during rush hours.
During this week many would be doing their shopping, buying presents of all sorts and value for their dearests and others. By this time staff-parties and shopping till late in the evening are in full-swing. Many would make sure to buy, even if it is beyond their budget, brand name products to use or give as presents to their loved ones during the festive season. Some Christmas excesses will have to be paid from the end of January salary.
During the past days turkeys enjoyed their last hours and gobbles before they were slaughtered to make it in time to homes and restaurants ovens to be served with all the trimmings and condiments for the sumptuous traditional Christmas luncheons followed by lots of mince pies. A glass of fine wine will make the Christmas lunch complete.
I need not tell you driving and drinking do not mix.
Unfortunately some parents and other family members are living testimonies and dread these festive days. The Christmas festive season brings back to some families startling memories of the police officer at their door step. The tragic news that ensued about a dearest, a family member, or a close friend who was involved in a horrific traffic accident changed the Christmas festive season into mourning and grief if not forever for many years.
Those tragic moments can never be erased from the memories of those who had to go through such a tragic experience. Obviously there may be other reasons why Christmas brings so much grief to some people. It is bad enough that at one point or another we have to experience testing and challenging times we cannot alter that but can avoid inflicting on ourselves and others unnecessary pain if not grief. I trust you get my drift. Enjoy the Christmas spirit responsibly and share Christmas with your dearests and loved ones.
I take this opportunity to wish the Directors, Management and staff of this newspaper a Happy Christmas while I wish you – the readers - and your loved ones a Blessed Christmas.
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