Things that Matter: The Spirit of Christmas Past, Present & Future

“Christmas is joy, religious joy, an inner joy of light and peace.” (Pope Francis)

“Jesus is the reason for the season” (Several sources, 1980s)

“Poinsettias red and white

Coralitas pink and white

Green peas, post cards

Red apples, paper flowers

It’s Christmas in Barbados!” (Bajan Carol, by Doris Provençal)

I was browsing the web, looking for the words of the fabulous Bajan Carol, composed by the late, great Doris Provencal, founder and leader of the Cecilian Singers, and I found the words in a splendid article by Rosemarie Layne on Christmases Past. Here’s an excerpt from Rosemarie’s article: “Christmas in Barbados in times gone by was clearly approached with much joy and pride in self and community. It took place in far more sharing times when “not that much was store-bought” and “traffic on the roads was non-existent” and as one old-timer reminisced “used to take three years to come” whereas now “every six months is Christmas!” So much for nostalgia! Today the season is predominantly one of commercialism and one-up-man-ship, which has not contributed to the enhancement of our society.”

Rosemary’s article also detailed the riotous behaviour and singing of Christmas past, and quotes from The Journal of the Barbados Museum & Historical Society: “ The village Christmas choir phenomenon emerged in the 1870s after the Bishop of Barbados, the Rt. Rev. John Mitchinson, expressed concern about the “bawdy songs” heard in the streets at Christmas. He consequently managed to convince the local singers that their talents could be used in a “more edifying manner”, and so arranged for training in carol singing.” This is just one more example of the edifying approach of Bishop Mitchinson, who I’m proud to say was the godfather of my maternal grandfather, John Mitchinson Watson.

I live in hope that after the Christmas trees and lights, gift giving and hearty greetings, food, food and more food, washed down with "sweet drinks", sorrel, rum, beer, punch a creme, wines good and bad, all consumed as if there was no tomorrow, folks will pause a while to think about the real reason for Christmas. I also hope and pray that the MAD driving (Malevolent, Aggressive, Dangerous) at this time won’t kill and maim innocent victims.

The exact date of Christ's birth isn’t important, and nor are the ancient pagan winter festivals ... it's the reality of the event that we should think about. And may those “of little faith" open minds and hearts to the possibilities - the meaning of that special birth and ministry to our own spiritual strengthening and personal mission. The story of the birth of Christ, however romanticised over the years, and the history of his life and mission, have the power to move mountains and transform lives. And even in today’s cynical world, the testimony of Dr. Francis Collins, leader of the Human Genome Project and perhaps the greatest living scientist, can go a long way in helping the doubtful to see the light! His faith matches that of the more famous Francis, the present Pope, quoted above.

One consequence of Christmas celebrations, that we know only too well, is that while the spirit of God doesn't reach everyone, an excess of other spirits (with fatal consequences) and a great deal that's not at all spiritual DOES reach almost everyone. In fact there are lots of Scrooges still around. And for some the meaning of Christmas is pure materialism … getting, not giving. 

Who was Scrooge? He was the “anti-hero” of Charles Dickens’ famous novella A Christmas Carol, published in 1843, never out of print since then, and adapted to radio, film, television, plays, musicals and opera. It’s a story with an eternal message. It features the three ghosts or spirits of Christmas that “convert” Scrooge – the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come – three causes for reflection.

Christmas past in Barbados was a very different affair to that of today. There was little excess and gifts were modest. Traditions were strong and many have died out. We’ve retained most of the traditional foods such as jug-jug, black cake and sorrel, but we’ve lost some of the most endearing things. How many people recall the scrubbers – those wonderful showmen and carol singers and “speechifiers” or “versifiers” who moved around the district on Christmas morning or Boxing Day morning, singing and not-so-subtly soliciting food and drink? They would begin with a verse such as:

“Mistress and Master

I neither come to boast nor brag

Nor to tek down de flag

But telling you bout de morning 

Of our Lord de Saviour was born

Wishing you a happy Christmas morn.”

And after a carol or two, would come:

“Christmas comes but once a year

An’ every man must have his share, 

So open de door and pass me a beer”, or:

“Mistress an’ Master, outside I stand,

Open the window an’ drop something in my han.”

(See A – Z of Barbados Heritage, by Carrington et al, for more verses.)

And on Boxing Day you were sure to have a visit from the tuk band, with Mother Sally, the Donkey man and the rather scary “shaggy bear”. 

Almost everybody went to church; either to midnight mass or the early five o’clock, with beauties bedecked in new Christmas clothes. The clothes haven’t changed, although attendance has! Christmas Present is much more associated with partying. And a well established Christmas tradition today is that hardly anything gets done after the second week of December, except for shopping – it’s unofficial holidays until January the second for almost everyone except shop assistants and caterers! All kinds of operations, offices and organisations shut down for two weeks.

What of the gifts? As children our Christmas gifts were mostly books, which we doted on. And as we were a family of four children, tins of toffees were an easy choice for aunts and uncles. But the big event for us every Christmas was the arrival of a parcel from our “fairy Godmother Aunt Helena Cadogan” in New York, with all kinds of American gifts – toys and books, clothes and chocolates!

And what of Christmas Yet to Come? In the USA “the politically correct” are outlawing many kinds of Christmas celebrations – it’s “Happy Holidays” because “Happy Christmas” might offend atheists and non-Christians. Will we succumb?

Whatever your faith or beliefs, let’s hope that the underpinning of Christmas celebrations, with the Spirits of Christmas past and present, of faith in God, of hope and love, of generosity, of charity, of family, friendship and spirituality, will end the year and begin the new one with renewed inspiration to make lives better for everyone – for family, community, our beloved country and our world. We CAN make a difference … A blessed Christmas everyone!

(Professor Fraser is Past Dean of Medical Sciences, UWI and Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology. Website: profhenryfraser.com)