And so this is Christmas

Unsurprisingly, this year’s lead-up to the Christmas period has been unlike any other. No-one really knew what was going to happen, so people threw themselves into buying cards and presents, decorating the tree and festooning the house and garden with lights. They have done it very early and with reckless abandon in order to convince themselves that it will still be Christmas regardless. Instead of the usual complaints about shops putting up their Christmas decorations in November and playing I Wish it Could Be Christmas Every Day non-stop for 8 weeks, we’re all enthusiastically embracing every sign that it really is the holiday season.

I’m not in favour of Christmas in November, but come December I am definitely ready. However, half the country beat me to it this year and by the time we came to buy our tree a couple of weeks ago the remaining selection was sparse to say the least. In the end, our only option was to buy a tree that was three quarters beautiful and one quarter squashed and brown. We’ve turned that bit towards the window facing the back garden, but what the squirrels must be thinking, I don’t know. Although they have grown fat on my recently planted bulbs, so they can’t complain.

And then there is the food. Apparently, supermarkets have reported a 70% rise in the sales of Christmas food.  If all else fails, eat. This is evident in our house, where mince pies have now become one of the basic food groups. We’ve decided that daily consumption is essential to our health. The freezer is packed with three types of cookie and the annual festive Nanaimo bars – that wonderful sweet treat that Canadians have very wisely kept to themselves. I’ve even bought a side of salmon although I have no idea when we’ll eat it. It just seemed really festive, although perhaps not so much for the salmon.

Of course Christians would argue that Christmas is about the birth of Jesus and not about all the falderal around it, but I am of the more traditional way of thinking that the winter solstice calls for midwinter festivities, providing a much-needed boost to get us through the long winter months ahead. We feel the need to gather together with family and friends in these dark days to eat, drink, talk and laugh. Of course celebrations will be subdued this year, but celebrations they will be. I wish everyone a peaceful and happy Christmas.