EDITORIAL - Don’t forget the true spirit of Christmas

There was a time not too long ago, when people in Barbados focused more on giving God thanks for allowing His only Son to be born, and less on the gift-giving aspect of Christmas. As recently as two decades ago, the concept of not going to church on Christmas Day was met with disdain from members of society, since this was considered one of the most important days on the church calendar. When presents were exchanged, the reason for Christmas was understood and the spirit of the season was shared with others.

Over the years, the true meaning of Christmas seems to have been placed on the back burner. This is not just the case in Barbados, but generally throughout the Western world. Many celebrants put more emphasis on the material aspects of the holiday. These include stocking up the house with food and drinks; Christmas fetes; buying gifts for friends and loved ones; and beautifying the house in preparation for parties. Every year the rush to see who can get the best and most expensive present for loved ones takes over. There is nothing wrong with incorporating these things into the Christmas celebrations. However, we should consider the reasons why these things are done. The purchase of gifts has become a significant part of the season, apparently the more expensive the better.

We fully acknowledge that this is to the advantage of our business community, especially at this time, when increased spending gives a welcome and vital boost to the economy. Our brief is not to discourage Christmas shopping, indeed, Christmas is the make or break time for many businesses, including ours. We would only caution that care needs to be taken, on the level of personal values, to ensure that a balanced attitude towards Christmas is conveyed to our children and society as a whole.

The parties and gatherings usually held on Christmas day have also seemed to lose their significance. Many people tend to take this opportunity to gorge themselves with food and drink, sometimes into oblivion. Again, this should not be the purpose of the gatherings. Christmas should be a time to focus on showing love, and promoting happiness and joy among friends and family.

In this vein, several private sector stakeholders have set the Christmas ball rolling by promoting charitable events where those who are victims of unfortunate circumstances, especially children, can experience the true spirit of giving and sharing. However, the meaning of Christmas goes even further than charity. According to the bible, Jesus, throughout His lifetime, gave of Himself freely to the forgotten and those in need. It is expressly for this reason that many churches – vehicles for spreading the Word of God and the works of Jesus – very often increase their presence at this time and embrace particularly those who believe that they are outcasts in society. Clergy, and lay members of congregations across the island, are well placed to reach out to others and promote positive values as well as the preservation of traditions that Barbadians hold dear.

Amidst the celebrations, The Barbados Advocate encourages each reader to reach out to someone who might need assistance or to be comforted during this season and in doing so, help to rekindle the true spirit of Christmas. December alone has seen several vehicular accidents and other tragedies that have caused many of us to ponder. There has also been great hue and cry about the increased uncaring nature of people and the need for us to be more considerate towards others.

However, as we reflect on events that have occurred throughout the year, whether good or bad, we must remember that Christmas is a time to give God thanks for everything that He has done for us, and the perfect opportunity for each person to share love, patience and togetherness with our fellow man.