It would be rude if I did not say happy holidays to my Christian readers.
Since I never heard of how X-Mas is celebrated in the southern hemisphere where it is hot weather so I do not know much. Here are some personal observations.
After leaving Pakistan my first Christmas was in England I learnt all there was to know about what Christmas is in the West. Had not seen much in Pakistan even in Lahore where there are so many churches and cathedrals. I always remember waking up in Broom's Hostel every Sunday morning with the church bells ringing continuously (Not too far from the hostel about half way to the Mall.) The only other thing I recall was that we went on 31st of December to my friend Vincent Dulvy's house (within walking distance from where we were given the degrees of MBBS on Convocation held at the "future" Panjab University building and the foundation stone was laid down by Maj. General Iskander Mirza, then Governer General of Pakistan.
We had told Dulvy to keep for us the Christmas Cake (whatever that meant for him our good friend who was Christian)Days and symbols have been increasing I gather over a period of years , centuries and so in addition to the Christmas day we have Christmas Eve and also "boxing day" (English). Somebody rightly complains about "consumerism" more than religious. That brings me to the "religious" part of Christmas which has almost died out under the weight of Big fellow Santa, the big Tree and the weight of all the goods bought as presents that is a Must even if you cannot afford (then keep paying for them in the next months until the next Christmas) and not to forget, "Scrooge". Such is the Holiday fever. I see the decorations depicting all kind of things, Angels, Raindeer, the "rednose" animal the whole vehicle of Santa flying toward the sky by the raindeers, the tree, the Santa along with Mrs. Santa, just blinking or unblinking lights of green ad red color, the snowflakes etc. etc. Of course there is occasionally seen Nativity scene (there has been some objection to such 'decoration' by some non-Christians).
TV shows of Xmas the movies and that "Miracle on the 34th Street" Shop around the corner etc.The Christian Child grows up with all these mythical things along with the only non-mythical thing of birth of Jesus Christ PBUH and so I do not know what the child thinks about it just like other Myths? I have not heard much about such things in discussions but I do wonder, if I was a Christian Child growing up with Santa dominating for Christmas celebration what would I think about Jesus PBUH especialy after getting to the age when "you do not believe in Santa" to be real
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