Remembering times past this Christmas present

Yes! It’s definitely that time of year again. Nativity scenes, tales of Santa, party celebrations, turkey plucking records and a big plate of Christmas dinner to round it off on Christmas Day; what more could we ask for than that?! Granted, not everything will go to plan, even if preparations began weeks ago. It is a season of abundance for many, but not all, lest we forget the difficulties in today’s world.

It is a time for bringing out the best in human nature. A time to make ample efforts in showing true kindness to the stranger and the poor. The gift of kindness is free, but it is most needed all around us. Christmas is a time to spend with family and friends, to eat seasonal food, and share those carefully chosen presents that you will bring to relatives.

It is of origin a spiritual festival, and to everyone it can be a time for reflection, to sit in stillness and prayer, and to enjoy the gentle carol singing.

And yet, not be cynical, I sometimes laugh when I hear how many times certain presents might have been ‘recycled’ and several homes later they are finally accepted with gratitude. They do say that it is the thought that counts. But you would be surprised at how many laps of parcel passing that can take place. I certainly don’t condone such ‘reprehensible’ activity. At least, not until I have received my tenth deodorant set.

Schools

Schools will have finished for a couple of weeks as jubilant children having taken part in school plays, now eagerly look forward to Santa Claus. I always go back to those school days when our primary school teacher tried to bring out the soprano in us. She spent an insurmountable time teaching us songs for the Nativity. There were always a few smart boys who substituted the song’s words for their own, enraging the unfortunate teacher, with the likes of ‘while shepherds washed their socks by night’.

A good choir in full flow is nothing short of uplifting, and traditional carols have a special place in my heart to this day. Only a right old Scrooge could screw up their face at such annual merriment. And should it matter if sung in a place of worship or at your front door? Certainly not! A wearisome community, tired by the vagaries of life must enjoy hope and cheer, now and again.

King Wenceslas

A beautiful carol often heard in churches or on the radio, which is an old favourite of mine, is Good King Wenceslas. I recently discovered a version sung by an old-time crooning favourite Bing Crosby back in the day. Bing knew a thing or two about a good Christmas ditty with his perennial renditions of ‘White Christmas’ made famous by a film of the same name. But for the ultimate experience you will need to hear a few classic carols which certainly create a true sense of what we imagine should truly be a perfect Christmas.

Ambience

The lyrics from Good King Wenceslas were penned by an Anglican priest and hymn writer named John Mason Neale in 1853 while the sweet melody that they added originated from an earlier time; it was a 13th Century tune used to celebrate the arrival of Spring. Another of Neale’s well known carols is ‘Veni, Emmanuel,’ based on the Latin ‘O Antiphons of Advent’.

So, in case you are feeling cold at the thought of hearing about snow, then gather some wood and light that cosy fireplace. Then sit back and listen to the mellifluous words of Good King Wenceslas or put on another song of a similar ambience. There are innumerable others to choose from and I remember having a little red pocketbook I bought in P & M. Lynches many years ago, filled with songs like Three Ships Came Sailing In, to God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen. I don’t think that modern pop songs are a patch on those time-honoured classics.

According to droll US President Calvin ‘Silent Cal’ Coolidge: ‘Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind,’ a time, ‘to cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.’ In a cruel world, such mercifulness can begin with one person at a time.

Without doubt all children dream of a white Christmas, but rarely is their wish fulfilled. But when it does, what greater wonderment is there than opening the bedroom curtains to see both town and country buried in a deep layer of overnight snow. But failing the arrival of a snowfall, we can at least conjure up snowy fields in our imagination with the words from Good King Wenceslas. Merry Christmas and be sure to listen to some carolling. Nollaig Shona Dhaoibh!