Hanging on to Christmas

By Maria Millers

“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.”
“Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more!”
(How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss.)

While Christmas is expected to be ‘the most wonderful time of year’, the reality is that for many people this time of year is never able to live up to the media hype and societal expectations. Often the holiday brings about feelings of loneliness and stress, both of which are made worse by all that we hear and see on social media. 

There is still the unfortunate tendency to hang on to irrelevant traditions of a northern hemisphere celebration of Christmas. Last week the ABC’s A (very) Musical Christmas program was full of sleighs and snow, chestnuts and holly. Not a single song that celebrated the distinctiveness of an Australian Christmas where the weather is warm, the days are long, and the celebrations often take place outdoors with barbecues and picnics.

Oh, the sun is high, and the day is long,
As Christmas comes, with a cheerful song.
No snowflakes fall, and the air is warm,
Yet in our hearts, the Christmas charm.
(Excerpt from The Australian Christmas Carol by Keith McKenry.)

So it’s not that there are no poems and songs about an Australian Christmas. From John Williamson’s song “The Little Aussie Christmas Tree” which tells the story of a Christmas bush or native pine in the outback, offering a playful twist on traditional Christmas trees to Jimmy Barnes’s rock style song to Paul Kelly’s “How to make Gravy,) a song from the point of view of somebody who can’t get to Christmas. The lyrics are the letter the prisoner, Joe, is writing to Dan, of whom he asks, “Won’t you kiss my kids on Christmas Day, please don’t let ‘em cry for me.”

Lyrics excerpt:

Guess the brothers are driving down from Queensland
And Stella’s flying in from the coast
They say it’s gonna be a hundred degrees, even more maybe
But that won’t stop the roast
Who’s gonna make the gravy now?
I bet it won’t taste the same
Just add flour, salt, a little red wine
And don’t forget a dollop of tomato sauce
For sweetness and that extra tang.

The pressures subtle and not so subtle to celebrate Christmas in a prescribed way comes from many directions: die hard traditionalists, expectations of family and friends, media hype and from films. Thinking about how our idea of Christmas has been shaped by films, just look at how many Christmas themed second rate films there are on Netflix.

However, if we go back to Christmas classics like “Little Women” and “It’s a Wonderful Life” these are films that highlighted the importance of family, generosity and non–material things. Of course today family may not have the same meaning as in the past. We now acknowledge that very often our blood relatives may be spread far and wide. And more and more form family units based on mutual interests, beliefs and shared values.

While rooted in Christianity, Christmas has become a celebration of kindness and community in many places. Many people, including non-religious people and people of other faiths, celebrate the spirit of Christmas in a festive style and by giving gifts. And in a country as culturally diverse as Australia, increasingly people of other faiths join in the celebration of Christmas.

Today most young people have little understanding of the religious origins of Christmas. The first Christmas celebration in a recognizable form took place around 336 CE in Rome, though the date of December 25th as the day to celebrate the birth of Jesus was not universally adopted at first. Early Christmas observances focused on religious rituals and prayers, with festivities around the holiday growing over centuries, influenced by both Christian and pagan traditions.

Modern Christmas, with its blend of religious observances, festive customs, and increasingly commercial aspects, is the result of centuries of cultural evolution. The fat jolly bearded man in a red costume is an invention of the Coca Cola Company.

The marketability of Christmas for big businesses has eroded what the holiday is all about. Christmas has become focused on consumerism. We now have what has been described as Christmas creep: every year the music plays sooner, the lights go up before that, and the shopping comes before that.

Advertisers, big retailers, and in recent years social media all pressure people into thinking that certain sorts of gifts, decorations, food, events and travel entail a ‘correct’ way to celebrate the holiday. People are essentially guilt-tripped into debt through the unattainable picture of the ‘perfect Christmas.’

In the window, a Santa with a glowing face,
Sold for three payments on credit.
The tree, plastic, fake, yet standing tall,
While the city hums in frantic call.
(Excerpt The Commercial Christmas“ by Kate Fagan.)

Despite all this, some thinkers, writers, and public figures have argued that the world needs Christmas, not just as a religious holiday but as a time for human connection, reflection, and compassion.

Charles Dickens was perhaps the most famous advocate for the idea that the world needs Christmas, especially through his novella “A Christmas Carol.” Through the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge, Dickens showed that the world could be a better place if people practiced generosity, kindness, and compassion all year-round.

Similarly in his 2021 Christmas message, Pope Francis emphasised that:

“Christmas is a time to be open to others, to love our neighbour, to open our hearts and be kind, forgiving, and generous.”

He argued that in a world full of conflicts and divisions, the message of Christmas – hope, peace, and unity – is more necessary than ever.

Christmas then is a chance to refocus on the values that unite humanity, especially in a world full of conflict and despair. While we may not be able to realistically expect an end to the wars in Gaza and Ukraine by Christmas, the holiday season provides an opportunity for renewed hope and a reminder that humanity is capable of peace, compassion, and reconciliation.

Have a happy and thoughtful Christmas and celebrate in whichever way brings you and your nearest and dearest the most joy.

 

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