CONTRASTS AT CHRISTMAS
With only a few days until another
Christmas Day rolls around, life gets crazier in the shops, pressure
increases on most people's finances, and in Australia, the heat belts
on down. Meanwhile, friends from afar write of snow falling and of
staying snug indoors. (Thank you to my friend, John, for this beautiful
photo of his back garden in England).
Christmas is a time of contrasts. It can be extremely hot here and many Australians spend their Christmas days eating salads with ham, prawns, other seafood, or similar - or in the case of we Vegans, delicious nutloaf or similar. Afternoons are spent playing backyard cricket, swimming in backyard pools, heading to the beach (to join the enormous amount of backpackers beginning to look like cooked lobsters themselves, from their over-enthusiasm for a tan, not realising the full strength of the Australian sunshine), or just enjoying being outdoors in the shade somewhere. Meanwhile, friends in the Northern Hemisphere cook turkeys or other roasts, rug up by the fire and stay snug, as snow often falls outside their windows.
A few of my Christmas days in years gone by have been spent in cold climates and it was certainly lovely to experience a white Christmas, just like the movies and many Christmas cards depict. (Australian's do have their own version of Christmas cards too though - with Santa in thongs, also known as flip-flops in some countries, and reindeers replaced with kangaroos leading the sleigh. True indeed!) Those white Christmas days though, were wonderfully spent having snowball fights and building snowmen. After all, it is not common for such opportunities back home. And isn't Christmas best enjoyed through the eyes of a child, particularly if that child is still within you?!
Contrasts of the weather are not the only contrasts though. Of course, many people around the world do not celebrate Christmas due to having other religious or cultural beliefs, allowing them their own (just as valid) celebrations at other times in the year. But there are also many who have been raised with the tradition of Christmas, but who cannot now feel inclined to celebrate, due to the pain it may bring.
Many people have lost loved ones this year and Christmas will bring a distinct emptiness to their old traditions. Others are caring for dying people within their families or friends, knowing this is the last Christmas they will spend together.
Hardship has come into many lives this year, whether emotionally, financially, physically, or however. Christmas can be an awful reminder of how things have changed in one's life. There are many, many people who would still like to enjoy Christmas, but cannot, due to the painful associations.
Thank goodness for the natural and innocent delight of children at this time of year. What a beautiful and special time it usually is for them. In Australia, with the delights of balmy summer's evenings, Carols by Candlelight happen in most towns, out under a blanket of stars. Hearing young children singing along and watching the delight on their faces, brings home the simplicity of Christmas.
Many adults though, avoid Christmas with their own families, due to possible conflicts, lack of time or resources to visit, or as I've often witnessed, the preference to be around friends at Christmas. Friends do become family too, as we get older. And as much as I care for my family and love that we will again be with my parents this year, I do admit to some rather fun Christmas Days being spent in far away places with friends.
There are those without even friends to spend Christmas day with though. So while we can enjoy the comparison of contrasts in weather and lifestyle, between Christmas in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres, please spare a thought for others who are living lives of different contrasts on Christmas Day.
Spare a thought for those who wish they could be with family but cannot be, for whatever reasons, for those who cannot afford the blessings of a healthy meal to be enjoyed with people they love, for those who do not have anywhere comfortable to sleep, and for all those who would just like it all to be over for another year.
I give thanks for a comfortable bed, fresh healthy food, people I love, and the reminder that life does change, that hard times can pass and life can feel joyous and wonderful all over again. Wherever your life has been at this year, challenging, joyous, or both, I wish you a beautiful Christmas Day, with the strength of hope for a wonderful year to follow.
Blessings to you, friends, and please pass kindness around. Life is short.
Happy Christmas.
Christmas is a time of contrasts. It can be extremely hot here and many Australians spend their Christmas days eating salads with ham, prawns, other seafood, or similar - or in the case of we Vegans, delicious nutloaf or similar. Afternoons are spent playing backyard cricket, swimming in backyard pools, heading to the beach (to join the enormous amount of backpackers beginning to look like cooked lobsters themselves, from their over-enthusiasm for a tan, not realising the full strength of the Australian sunshine), or just enjoying being outdoors in the shade somewhere. Meanwhile, friends in the Northern Hemisphere cook turkeys or other roasts, rug up by the fire and stay snug, as snow often falls outside their windows.
A few of my Christmas days in years gone by have been spent in cold climates and it was certainly lovely to experience a white Christmas, just like the movies and many Christmas cards depict. (Australian's do have their own version of Christmas cards too though - with Santa in thongs, also known as flip-flops in some countries, and reindeers replaced with kangaroos leading the sleigh. True indeed!) Those white Christmas days though, were wonderfully spent having snowball fights and building snowmen. After all, it is not common for such opportunities back home. And isn't Christmas best enjoyed through the eyes of a child, particularly if that child is still within you?!
Contrasts of the weather are not the only contrasts though. Of course, many people around the world do not celebrate Christmas due to having other religious or cultural beliefs, allowing them their own (just as valid) celebrations at other times in the year. But there are also many who have been raised with the tradition of Christmas, but who cannot now feel inclined to celebrate, due to the pain it may bring.
Many people have lost loved ones this year and Christmas will bring a distinct emptiness to their old traditions. Others are caring for dying people within their families or friends, knowing this is the last Christmas they will spend together.
Hardship has come into many lives this year, whether emotionally, financially, physically, or however. Christmas can be an awful reminder of how things have changed in one's life. There are many, many people who would still like to enjoy Christmas, but cannot, due to the painful associations.
Thank goodness for the natural and innocent delight of children at this time of year. What a beautiful and special time it usually is for them. In Australia, with the delights of balmy summer's evenings, Carols by Candlelight happen in most towns, out under a blanket of stars. Hearing young children singing along and watching the delight on their faces, brings home the simplicity of Christmas.
Many adults though, avoid Christmas with their own families, due to possible conflicts, lack of time or resources to visit, or as I've often witnessed, the preference to be around friends at Christmas. Friends do become family too, as we get older. And as much as I care for my family and love that we will again be with my parents this year, I do admit to some rather fun Christmas Days being spent in far away places with friends.
There are those without even friends to spend Christmas day with though. So while we can enjoy the comparison of contrasts in weather and lifestyle, between Christmas in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres, please spare a thought for others who are living lives of different contrasts on Christmas Day.
Spare a thought for those who wish they could be with family but cannot be, for whatever reasons, for those who cannot afford the blessings of a healthy meal to be enjoyed with people they love, for those who do not have anywhere comfortable to sleep, and for all those who would just like it all to be over for another year.
I give thanks for a comfortable bed, fresh healthy food, people I love, and the reminder that life does change, that hard times can pass and life can feel joyous and wonderful all over again. Wherever your life has been at this year, challenging, joyous, or both, I wish you a beautiful Christmas Day, with the strength of hope for a wonderful year to follow.
Blessings to you, friends, and please pass kindness around. Life is short.
Happy Christmas.
