Christmas in a Crisis- by Dr Remy Perumal
Dr Remy Perumal , retired Consultant Physician and freelance journalist living in the UK
Chill winds of recession are threatening the festivities. With the effects of the Pandemic, economic crisis, and runaway inflation causing uncertainty, what can we expect this Christmas? A ‘Crisis at Christmas’ sadly, seems inevitable.
At these uncertain times, families have to contend with the phenomenal rise in the cost of living and huge increase in the prices of fuel and energy. Impact of these would be redundancies, job losses and loss of homes. Annual family gatherings could be hampered by prohibitive travel costs, thereby, elderly parents could be isolated and lonely at Christmas.
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The Christian message ‘Peace on earth goodwill to men’ must signify that Christmas is a time for celebrating the best of humanity – of generosity, self sacrifice and kindness. Therefore, instead of spend, spend, spend on food, drink and gift giving, at Christmas this year, it would the perfect opportunity for those with means, to shift their spending habit, deciding to spend less on themselves.
This Christmas, kindness and compassion towards those in need would be more important than ever. Also, consider including someone living on their own, in the family Christmas festivities. Such kindness would be very much appreciated. I am not ‘pontificating from the pulpit’. Because what follows is, my personal experience, of what would have been, a Christmas in isolation, far away, from family and friends.
For my wife, daughter and I, our first Christmas in the UK in 1970, was a challenging one. In my first job as a junior doctor, on a 80 hour week without any overtime, my take home pay was eighty pounds – one half went on rent for the flat. Being the newest recruit to the Department, I was given the ‘resident doctor on call’ shift , on Christmas Eve. Whilst I was on duty in the hospital, my wife rang because my daughter became unwell. When I received the telephone call my only option was, to ask my wife to bring her to hospital to stay with me in the ‘on call’ room. They arrived safely at the hospital. That night it snowed heavily. When I finished my duty shift at nine on Christmas morning, we stepped out into a foot of snow on the ground and roads outside. Although we warm winter coats, but no winter boots.
As it was a bank holiday, there were no buses. Hence, It was a tricky, tiring one mile walk to the underground station – carrying the toddler and overnight cases. slipping and sliding all the way. After that treacherous trek we were relieved to arrive at the station, only to discover that the trains were on a very limited service, too. Eventually, we got to our rented flat, about midday at Christmas. We were cold, exhausted and very hungry. We had planned a quiet and frugal Christmas, just the three of us. We had a small Christmas tree and one toy – little teddy, for the girl, all obtained with green shield stamps, we had saved.
We were pleasantly surprised to be invited for Christmas lunch by our landlord and his wife. As we were 6000 miles away from family, this kind gesture, understandably made a tremendous difference to our Christmas day.
“ Sometimes when we are generous in small barely detectable ways it can change someone else’s life forever” – Margaret Cho
Whilst we do our bit to help those in need, there is no reason, not to celebrate without overindulgence and within one’s means. We can express and enjoy the childlike love of the season bringing the magic, the love and joy of it all. As Christians, we can still continue to remember those beautiful angels bringing the message ‘ Joy to the World the Lord is come’ and hold onto them, do not let them fly from our minds.’ The stars, the crib, nativity plays, Father Christmas, adored carols and of course the stocking on the end of the bed. Oh what joy!
Turkey and Tinsel, crackers and candles and yes, a bit of mistletoe and wine will give that that traditional twist, to your Christmas.
Can it be true that decorating the Christmas tree is the third happiest moment for most of us – after being with family and giving of gifts ? The hours in the attic, trying to find the fairy lights, unravelling them, only to realise that half don’t work and discovering decorations smashed, as you had forgotten to bubble wrap them? Surely, all this adds to the festive jolly of the preparations!
Today, Christmas festivities are hijacked by the commercial hype and the purchasing mania. We tend to forget that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus – the new life that gave hope to mankind. Hence, this is the perfect opportunity to shift the focus to it’s religious significance.
Religious observances at Christmas, did always, take centre stage in our lives. Family culinary preparations and household cleaning and decorations always culminated in attending Midnight mass. Therefore, when the church bells ring out the ‘message of great joy’ we could still share the wonder of Mary and Joseph watching over baby Jesus, laid in the manger, that first Christmas
“O come let us Adore Him”
’Tis a season to be jolly ‘, one of merriment, featuring all things festive and material – fabulous gifts, decorations and strings of twinkling lights. This may not be the theme, this Christmas. Make compassion and kindness your Christmas gift !
