EVERYONE knows that December 25 is Christmas Day.
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It is celebrated in most countries across the world and has been for over 2000 years.
Our retail outlets look forward to it to increase their sales, and the general public throng to the shopping centres to scoop up the specials.
Christmas music blares out, Jingle bells and red-nosed reindeers appear all around, and Santa Claus has multiple locations.
But, there’s something missing.
The original Santa Claus was Saint Nicholas of Myra on the southern coast of Turkey who died around the year 320.
He was a bishop who was renowned for his kindness to the poor and needy.
I have an idea his name was spelt Niclaus.
That’s why Santa (Saint) distributes presents!
Christmas, as all Christians and many others, know is the birthday of Jesus Christ.
The reason for the season is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Redeemer.
Yet, in our increasingly secular society, the birthday boy seems to be overlooked and subsumed into glamour and glitz, parties, get- togethers and celebrations of all kinds.
There’s nothing against celebrations, so long as we know what and why we are celebrating.
The first Christmas message was one of peace and joy.
That’s something more than skin deep, and reaches the deepest recesses of our hearts if we let it. Joy includes serenity, goodwill to all, and a letting go of resentment and bitterness. There’s a line from a song I like to quote - “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me”.
Maybe this Christmas we can ensure that these spiritual gifts will be exchanged with all the people we know and meet along the way, including the homeless and disadvantaged, the lonely and forgotten, refugees and asylum seekers, and all those affected by the horror siege in Sydney.
May all our readers enjoy a blessed and happy Christmas filled with peace and goodwill.