I was awake –
and so were the rest of my family. I sat down next to the Christmas tree and
stared at the dining table knowing that in a few hours’ time, Mum will have
transformed the bare wooden surface into an annual feast fit for kings who have
traded their metal crowns for paper ones.
In walked my
family – cuppas, cards and presents at the ready.
“Merry
Christmas,” I said – more pleased that the preparation was over rather than
that the day had arrived.
“Yes, Merry
Christmas, mate,” replied my brother – probably feeling as enthralled as me. And
that’s how it felt this year; more of a financial burden that’s been forced
upon us by commercial pressure and social inclusion.
“We’ll open
presents to a few festive tunes,” suggested Mum. With that she turned on the
television, scrolled through to a music channel and sat back down by the tree.
That’s when it hit me:
‘Our 60 per
cent sale now on…’
‘The half-price
sale begins tomorrow…’
‘Visit our
January sale online…’
Here we were
about to exchange gifts – many that were bought beyond our means – and still
retailers were trying to pilfer our hard earned cash on products at a fraction of the price that we initially paid out for.
But what is
it all for? Are we judged on our religious ceremonial purchases? Am I a worse
Uncle for not spending as much as my brother on our niece and nephew? No.
When you’re
unemployed, hard up or going through a career change, Christmas is without
doubt an ominous few months – despite repetitive festival tunes trying to
persuade you that ‘it’s the most wonderful time of the year.’ When broke, the prices
of presents feel higher; the queues at the checkouts seem longer; the voice of
Noddy Holder sounds louder; and the prospect of Christmas more daunting.
So what’s
the solution? Do you bite the bullet and succumb to the commercial pressure of
a religious festival in a secular state? How about throwing purchases on
plastic and paying it off throughout 2013? Or do you cut off the friends and
relatives that you only buy for because they buy for you? The truth is that you
will not admit defeat; evading an immense bank statement is not an option.
Retailers and marketing geniuses have been working hard all year so you have to
spend, pay, purchase, buy, borrow and sell your soul to the devil.
And what
about the endless intake of Christmas cards? – Arguably the most pointless
exchange of well wishes by any atheist. They’re a mythical festive façade worth
millions of pounds annually.
So the fear
of present buying; the busy shopping streets; the endless wrapping; the buying
for people who buy for you; the anticipation of missing a delivery; and the
worn-out, battered, depleted bank card all come to rest on the morning of
December 25 – like a couple about to give birth in a stable in Bethlehem.
And, within
minutes, it’s over.
For me, this
is when Christmas really begins; I immerse myself around friends and family,
enjoy foods that only arise at Christmas, and drink fine ales – three passions of
mine that not everybody has in life.
So next time
somebody comes across as a ‘Scrooge’, take a moment to wonder if it’s a breathless
bank card that’s playing on their mind. Or, just maybe, they've grown tired of
a materialistic exchange that’s taken months to prepare for.
We’ll do it
all again next December.
Happy New
Year
