TO us here on Earth, families decorating trees, choirs singing seasonal songs and children worshipping Santa Claus are all things which have been winter customs for years and years. These traditions are something we see as perfectly normal; those who don’t celebrate in a similar way are considered kill-joys.
Imagine though looking at Christmas from an objective point of view, from the view of someone who has never celebrated, or even heard of Christmas. Where would you even begin to explain the birth of Christ? And of what relevance is Santa Claus? Why are presents given? And (something which even throws me at times), what the hell is a pantomime and why is it such a big thing at Christmas!?
These are universal traditions nearly everyone celebrates, but then there are the traditions individual families practice each year.
For example, every year my family go out for Christmas day dinner. The last time I spent Christmas in my own house was when I was 9 days old and fresh out the hospital. I can imagine some people may find it shocking and even a bit depressing that I don’t spend Christmas with all my loved ones in someone’s house, but let me assure you it isn’t. This tradition is part of my Dad’s Christmas present to my Mum; she doesn’t want to spend Christmas Day cooking and screaming at people to set the table and tidy up. The Christmas meal out is usually quite a calm affair (…once we get to the restaurant) and because we’ve been doing it for so long now, almost twenty years, it would be strange to change now.
From an objective view, Christmas could seem a bit cult-ish. And maybe it kind of is. Not that it is a criticism. Any cult where you’re expected to eat your bodyweight in food and get presents suits me to the ground.
Words: Carey-Louise Howie, Picture: Melissa Reid
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