Here in Australia Christmas is a Thing, capital T.
Although Australia is supposed to be a secular country, I strongly disagree because of this attachment to the ‘silly season’ (as it is referred to here).
Christmas has its origins with Christian religion, with the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, but that is where the connection ends and advertising and commercialisation begins.
This is where I have a problem with Christmas.
For many people Christmas is a time of great joy and a time to spend with loved ones. But for many others it is a time of pressure, guilt, sadness, loneliness and grief.
I used to work for the state Coroner, and the amount of persons killing themselves over the Christmas period was both shocking and very upsetting for me. No one (as far as I know) has ever killed themselves over the Easter Bunny.
I also have a huge problem with the overeating at this time of the year. It is seen as completely normal and also an expectation for every person in Australia. Christmas and gluttony are really synonyms.
In America Christmas is not so important as they say: ‘Happy Holidays’ so that they include other major religions. Here in Australia we DON’T do that. Christmas is all consuming all expectations!
No. I’m not a Grinch. I respect other peoples right to enjoy Christmas. I just don’t want to participate in the national obsession of forced gluttony, forced gift giving and forced good will.
Gavin.