Archive for December, 2011

For the super astute, politically  correct  person, the headline “The Time For Christmas ” should read “The Time  of Christmas”. Most of us wouldn’t have made anything of this little play on words….but there is a subtle difference in phraseology.

We all know Christmas time as being the time where gifts are exchanged, families and friends come together, consumption of food and drink etc etc. In some parts of the world Christmas is a festive season, based on the christian beliefs that it is the celebration of the birth of the infant Jesus Christ, whilst other societies and cultures  basically ignore the reason for celebration but take the time off anyway.

Many will see Christmas with snow and mistletoe, whilst the more lucky ones in the southern Hemisphere should enjoy warm sunny days maybe sitting beside an idyllic lake or lying in the sand on some crowded beach.

Christmas can be a time of great joy and excitement for some, others it can be a time of sadness and isolation.

For a young child the excitement of Christmas is one of anticipation…the expectancy of opening presents , playing with new toys ( which have gotten more sophisticated and more expensive as the years go by) , and to playing with these toys with their friends and maybe family ( depending on age) . Even though much of this Christmas ritual is European paganism…it is for most parts jolly good fun and pretty harmless.

The Time for Christmas , to which this blog is all about  is really aimed at exploring why this festive season has endured for so long ( over 2000 years).

It is inconceivable that anyone would ever consider scraping Christmas, but in this quick changing politically correct society we live in ( particularly in Western bloc countries) anything is possible. We in New Zealand love ” tinkering with things”. Politicians and Government workers make it a full time profession.

So why has Christmas endured?  It certainly can’t be said it is  because of the Christian content and reason for Christmas ….church attendances in many countries have either declined or at least remained the same for years. ( although some would argue that they only go to church annually     ( on Christmas Day) .

The real reason for Christmas to be such an enduring iconic and not to be missed occasion, is that it provides huge economic spin offs for retailers , hospitality and transport operators.

I heard a figure recently that stated most retailers expect to turn over 30% plus of their annual turn over in the 5 or so days leading up to Christmas.

But one thing I have noticed this year in particular, is that many stores are discounting between 30 and 50% off the normal retail before Christmas. This I believe is unprecedented. Is it because of the worsening global economy , or is it a shrewd move to capture  a greater percentage of market share. In the past retailers have double dipped by vigorously encouraging people to buy before Christmas…then offer on Boxing Day , massive savings , which has prompted many people to hold off buying until the day after. Some even more astute buyers actually use that day of so called discounts to buy large for the following Christmas Day ….but maybe not in the clothing line for children as much can happen in 12 months of growing!

How the old traditional Boxing Day has changed!

In times long past, Boxing Day was the day when the servants feasted on the left overs from the masters pleasures of opulence of the day before….when presents would be opened on that day , mainly in boxes. I am not sure whether the privileged actually gave presents to their servants, or whether the servants wrapped them up themselves taking what was thrown out in the garbage pile.

There will be I hope always a time ( and a place for Christmas) .

For me, Christmas along with Easter are the two most important and revered times of the year, and this will remain so for obvious reasons.

So all that remains with less than 4 days to go until Christmas, is to wish you and your loved ones the  most meaningful Blessed and Merry Christmas.

In that I must include the words ” safe” Christmas ….I notice in New Zealand the ACC ( Accident Compensation Commission) paid out $2 million dollars last Christmas for ” Christmas Day Injuries “!!

I will write again soon

Lindsay Walker

Wednesday 21st December.