Reflecting on the true essence of the Christmas season
Back when I was a child, Christmas was a big deal (it doesn’t seem so these days). There were decorations all over town, the media played Christmas jingles like they were going out of fashion, and everyone was generally in the spirit of the season, whether they were Christians or not. TV stations would host daily parties where children would go and make requests which would be aired every day. The Apapa Amusement Park was always bursting at the seams and it seemed like all the children from all over Nigeria converged there daily. One could feel the excitement in the air. It was also an opportunity for everyone to just relax and be merry, express thanks, and generally anticipate the New Year.
One of my long-lasting memories was going to see Father Christmas. The largest departmental stores at the time were Kingsway and Leventis, pretty much like the ShopRite of today. Each of the stores always hosted a Santa grotto and my aunt always took my brother and me, and our cousins there until we outgrew it. I can’t remember which of the departmental stores it was but one year, one of them had a fully fitted Father Christmas attraction complete with a child-sized train pulled by a locomotive-type engine that took you from the store to Father Christmas’ (Santa’s) grotto somewhere within the store. It was a fun experience riding through the store as everyone watched, knowing that we were on our way to see Santa Claus.
The train would arrive at Santa’s grotto and one of his helpers (I don’t recall them being dressed or addressed as Elves) would help us out and lead us in a procession marching straight to where Santa was sitting. Each child got his/ her turn to sit on Santa’s lap while he asked whatever question it was that he asked. Santa was always fully kitted in his red suit complete with a white beard and very often dark glasses (till this day, I wonder what purpose the glasses served, was Santa covering up his tiredness or did he just want to add an air of mystery to his personae?). I am sure I asked why Santa was black and not white like in all the storybooks but I doubt if I got a convincing explanation.
Santa would then dig into his red sack and pull out a wrapped present for the child. You can imagine the excitement on each child’s face when they got their presents. Some parents, knowing how important this experience was to their children, would threaten naughty kids with not getting a visit to Santa’s grotto and each child would sit up and behave. I must say that the departmental stores tried with the gifts those days. If I remember clearly, there were good toys and not some random items. Santa always gave out good quality presents depending on where you encountered him (the Santa at the TV stations was reputed to hand out exercise books and pencils but I never met him so I can’t confirm). Did parents pay for their kids to see Santa or was this experience available to all those who walked into the store? I can’t remember. Either way, it was one of the highlights of the year.
Father Christmas or Santa Claus, whichever you prefer, has been with us for a very long time. Now, not everyone believes in Santa. We all know that there is no universal being who lives at the North Pole and rides around the world on a sleigh pulled by reindeer, delivering gifts to everyone on Christmas Day assisted by elves. That’s just marketing but irrespective, we all carry on in the spirit of the season. There are even groups that may not necessarily identify with Christmas but they have a version of Santa and they give him different names. I have heard of a Father Blessing before and I wondered why they just didn’t call him Father Christmas. If you’re curious about how Santa Claus was developed and how the concept took the world by storm, Google can provide answers.
In all of this, it is important to remember what Christmas is all about; the birth of Jesus, the son of God. It’s about God giving His only son as a gift to the world. The one who was prophesied to be the deliverer of nations. What greater gift can anyone give? In essence, God provided us with one of the most important keys to living life: the gift of giving, sacrificially.
Some have argued that Jesus wasn’t born on Christmas Day so His birth shouldn’t be celebrated then. Some others have even emphasised that Christmas Day was inspired by a pagan celebration. There are diverse opinions and some may even be factual but I believe it’s a class act to get a good part of the whole world to celebrate Jesus, knowingly or unknowingly, every Christmas.
I can’t help noticing the similarities between God and the birth/ gift of Jesus and Father Christmas and the giving of gifts. God, who gave His only begotten son as a gift to the world and a generous old man who gives gifts to all around the world, just shows that the essence of the season is about giving. We have Christmas because God gave His son, His only son at that. We focus a lot on giving gifts during this period without realising that we’re just following God’s example.
Whether you believe in Santa Claus and Christmas or not, just take one thing out of the season: sacrificial giving. That’s it. The reason for the season. We very often focus on being benevolent during Christmas but many people don’t carry that attitude into the rest of the year. Let us cultivate the habit of giving especially to those who are in need, whether it is Christmas or not.
The world needs you and I to be a blessing and we all can do so irrespective of whatever resources we have or think we lack. Go out there and bless someone this season and all through the year. This is the way I see things today.