A good time to escape from sad realities

I GUESS the first thing we should all know about Christmas is that Jesus was not officially born on the 25th. Yes, just like the Queen, he has two birthdays, but I would imagine if Jesus was on Earth he would wonder what all the fuss is about.

Yet, this period of the year has become the most celebrated and best loved by people all over the world. And, for many, the most expensive.

For fear of looking mean, we increase our spending budget beyond our limits and then live in fear of the aftermath.

We seem to think that if we don’t spend, spend, spend that this Christmas will not be as good as the last.

This is the time when Santa comes to visit and sprinkles a little magic.

It is a time when families who have parted ways try to find a way to be united again.

We might argue through it, or complain about it, but if there is one thing I have learned, it’s that we are lucky to have it.

It allows us to escape from the reality that is our lives. It gives us an opportunity to evaluate our lives in a way we can’t for the other 11 months of the year, and even though many of us will sit down to carve the Christmas turkey, eat our spiced beef and drink our fill, we should not forget that for many others it is a time of terrible poverty and loneliness.

For them, it is the same as yesterday, only that Christmas magnifies everything, so they feel a little hungrier, a little lonelier and a lot poorer.

For them, there are no presents or time for giving. They feel that there is no one out there who cares.

All that said, we can change it with a little donation, and no matter what you have read in the papers, or seen on the news in recent weeks, please remember that charity for most people and organisations is a fundamental tool which helps people survive, not just at Christmas, but every day of the year.

A donation is a way to reach out to those who feel isolated or forgotten.

So let us rise above a few greedy individuals and allow others to feel some happiness at this special time of year.

Go down to your local charity, donate what you can, call out to that guy or girl who has the box rattling as you walk past and throw a few euro their way.

Let Christmas be a celebration, not just for a few, but for all.

Finally, a very happy Christmas to everyone!