Season to be jolly?

I’m not a fan of Christmas. Forget the fact that it has now ‘lost its meaning’ as everyone likes to say. The first ever Christmas celebrations, at a time when the world was thought to be flat, were based upon historical inaccuracies. So what did it ever ‘mean’ anyway? Throughout the ages it has meant many things to many people; now it just has a different meaning. Forget the fact that it encourages gluttony when two thirds of the world watches on in poverty (well they would if they could – it’s probably better for those of them who can’t). Forget the fact that there are thousands of people living on the streets while eight year-old children are needlessly given mobile phones.

The problem for me is that people are forced to celebrate at a time when they may not actually feel like celebrating. It’s a bit like a stand-up comedian telling the audience when to laugh. I believe that there is more misery at Christmas than there is happiness. That, for me, is enough to make me feel uncomfortable about the whole reindeer-fart-powered nonsense. As I write this, at least half a dozen people spring to mind who will dread the thought of spending Christmas without a recently lost loved one. Countless people will be spending Christmas without anyone at all. Even for the children, (Christmas is for children of course, isn’t it?) once the insatiable orgy of frantic paper tearing and screaming is complete, it all becomes too much fun in too short a space of time for it to be sustained. There’ll soon be tears.

It costs an awful lot of money to be so miserable. Then there is the stress involved. What to buy for whom, the Christmas card dilemmas and the inevitable arrival of a Christmas card from someone not on your list so you better write another card quick because it’s Christmas Eve. The awkward moments associated with getting together with people that you haven’t seen for a whole year who you may not even like. Then, when it’s all over, you really don’t feel like you’ve had any kind of holiday and need a week off to recover before going back to work. But you have to, because you’ve just checked your credit card bill.

Christmas is the most likely time of year to suffer depression, with high death rates over the Christmas and New Year periods. Is it really the season to be jolly?

I’ll do Christmas. I’ll tag along with all the expectations. But this year, I’m determined not to put myself under any pressure. Whatever happens happens. What is missed or forgotten can whistle. Sarah and I are on bonus time anyway. Christmas or not, we are lucky to be here, and whatever we have to offer to other people may never have been. If I hadn’t been operated on as early as I had, I could be in a wheelchair. If Sarah hadn’t sought medical advice as early as she did she may still be battling cancer. Not worrying about it is a step towards escaping the shackles of Christmas. Refuse to take it seriously. It’s a trap, it’s a con, it’s a brief time of imprisonment where you are not free to do exactly what you want. It’s just another day that ends in the letter “Y” and it’ll soon be over.