Is Christmas is universally recognised?

Christmas is universally recognised as the season of goodwill. It is a period marked by good cheer, the anticipation of gifts and the joy of giving and sharing among Christians and their friends all over the world. The period is now celebrated around the world as a time for the giving and receiving of gifts in a spirit that has extended far beyond the followers of the faith. It is in commemoration of this spirit that cards expressing the sentiments of the season are given to friends, relatives and well wishers and many remember the needs of the less fortunate.

It is a special time particularly for children for whom the story of Father Christmas has great resonance especially with the excitement that builds up for the expected presents that come once a year. Santa sits in his grotto, and children who come to see him receive gifts and sometimes prayers.

Christmas music is played along the streets, malls and market places and churches are crowded with worshippers coming to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the religious symbol that is the basis of the celebration that has become so crassly commercialised in much of the world. It is not just a day but also a season of special meals while residential houses, shops, churches and streets are specially decorated and children and adults don new clothes, display their possessions for all to see.

It is easy to forget the reason for the celebration because of the euphoria of indulgence that takes over with many eager for an excuse to forget the hard times they have been through all year and to renew their hopes for better prospects in the new one.

Christmas is also the season for reuniting with family, making the annual journey back to the village to see loved ones also expectant of getting their share of the bounty from sons and daughters who work in the big cities. It is a period of happiness often fraught with tension due to the hustle and bustle of activity on roads and highways leading to accidents and loss of life. Transporters see the season as one in which to make extra income and thus abandon caution. These are among the elements that have led to the commercialisation of the season and the devaluation of its essence. Over indulgence spills into over expenditure and reality dawns later in

January when school fees are to be paid, and when salaries get delayed. This

has led to the first month of the New Year being referred to in some quarters as the ‘‘longest month'' in the year. This should not be. What is required is systematic planning and judicious budgeting of resources.

As the world marks Christmas tomorrow, we appeal to all to see the period as a time of relaxation and reflection; a time to count blessings and recharge roots; to celebrate a year survived, share goodwill, and to gird loins for the year ahead, knowing that what we sow we shall reap.

It is a time too to pray for the nation as it enters another critical period of elections next year, and to put in the work to see those prayers come to fruition.

Merry Christmas.