The Christmas Madness Has Begun

Christmas was never my favourite time of the year (For me, the feeling of dread increases the closer Christmas approaches).

Oh, well, I will keep my fingers crossed with the hopes of the Christmas Season passing fleetingly.

Let it be known to the entire world that I am not a scrooge; I would buy a Christmas gift in advance for someone who believes in and celebrates Christmas but would feel insulted if someone gave me a Christmas gift.

All right, I will admit that my behaviour toward Christmas may be a bit complicated, but I can assure you that my behaviour, in this regard, is justified.

We Are Reminded About Christmas Months In Advance

Here, in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, we are reminded about Christmas months in advance.

Truthfully, it is hard to ignore when you turn on your radio and the radio announcer blurts out something in regard to how far we are away from Christmas.

To be fair, I cannot blame any radio announcer for telling us how far Christmas is away.

Why?

Because it has been ingrained in our psyche.

People (mostly housewives) would buy their curtains in advance.

And, why is it that they purchase their curtains in advance?

Because store owners tend to double the price of curtains during Christmastime (They know that women would go to the extreme to get those pretty-looking curtains to decorate their homes for Christmas; thus making a huge profit).

So, as a society, we are psychologically programmed to prepare for Christmas in advance.

My father has often referred to Christmas as, “The businessman’s holiday,” because it is really the retailers who are making all of the money by taking away all of our money.

Christmas Is Supposed To Be The Time Of The Year When We Celebrate The Birth Of Jesus Christ

Now, tell me, what does the purchase of material items have to do with the birth of Jesus Christ?

The truth, of course, is nothing!

Yet, we go out of our way to spend more money than we have ever spent in all of the other months combined during the Christmas Season.

Hey, as far as I am concerned, Christmas can be celebrated without making these businessmen filthy rich.

But, no, we want our homes extravagantly decorated (And, that, my friend, requires spending lots of money).

I End Up Feeling As Though I Was Some Type Of Domestic Slave

In addition to working hard at our place of employment, another set of work falls on our lap as soon as we arrive at our homes; such as:

• Cleaning the entire house as though we were maids or butlers.
• Painting the interior and the exterior of the house.
• Mowing the lawn.
• Trimming the trees and plants.

Guess what?

All of that domestic slavery is done in the name of Christmas.

The Bottom Line

The citizens (most of them) of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, love Christmas. It is that time of the year when:

• They socialize with their friends, family and relatives.
• They exchange gifts with each other.
• They eat foods like ham, turkey and various types of wild meats (Which is not my kind of thing because I follow a vegan lifestyle).
• They overindulge themselves in various types of alcoholic beverages; which, unfortunately, leads to inebriation.
• They attend a church service ― one where the priest inspires them or bore the living daylights out of them.

Despite Christmas being one of the happiest times for most people, many of them have lost touch with the true meaning of Christmas.

It is either about the birth of Jesus Christ (which is something I hope that people will take note of) or materialism (It cannot be both).

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