Christmastime - The Reason to Be Jolly!

It's yuletide season again!

Let us reminisce...

I remembered fondly my yuletide of yesteryears. I know you do.

During my schooldays, yuletide meant going to church, half-asleep listening to the sermon, enjoying Christmas carols and receiving door gifts as we left the church. Without fail, these always came in the form of nicely wrapped-up new scented handkerchiefs and toothbrushes.

There was one year, I cannot remember for sure. It must be the mid-1960s. Yuletide that year reminded me of a movie news magazine particularly its cover and contents - the December issue. This issue cost a little more and it was also a wee bit thicker. The cover was adorned by a youthful and beautiful Angie Dickinson holding a red Christmas stocking. The pictures inside,among others, were of Sandra Dee, Mary Tyler Moore, Rock Hudson, Pat Boone and Troy Donahue. Some of the movies featured included Hootenany Hoot and Music Man. I remembered that year well.

As I grew older, Yuletide meant something if you were invited to a house party or if you were going on a group date to a public dance at the town hall. Presents were not that important. Adolescent fun was. To be seen with your peers, drinking and smoking was the "in thing". It was the "we thing" as well.

At the university, you must be seen at Carmen's Inn at the Penang Merlin Hotel or any of the hotel discotheques if it is Christmas Eve. Otherwise you would be labeled a certified full bloodied nerd!

These days my yuletide season is celebrated in a more sombre spirit. Early in the morning, we go to church celebration and after that we wished each other 'Blessed Christmas'. If we get invited to dinner, then it's the Christmas turkey that we will taste with cranberry sauce. If not, we enjoy a quiet evening, spending devotional time with God.

The yuletide season has been hijacked for a long time. Christmastime is the annual big-event for hotels, restaurants, resorts and superstores. 'Tis their season to be jolly as they rake in the big bucks. With Santa Clauses and Santarinas dancing and prancing and doling out sweets to children, they can practically smell dollars, happiness and gaiety in the air. Resorts are transformed into tinsel towns and winter wonderlands with revelers aplenty while hotel lounges and superstores boast of herds of reindeer and sleighs complete with jingle bells and Santa Claus. Also, christmas trees are set aglitter everywhere in toy shops, department stores and hypermarkets.

While, we enjoy Christmas and the delight it brings, let us not forget the true reason for Christmas. More than 2000 year ago, our Lord and Saviour,Jesus Christ,was born. He came and he died on the cross that we may have life eternal.

This Christmas, let us spread the message of salvation - The Word. Let us bless the many people we know that they will come to know the Lord as well and be saved.

Christmastime - 'tis the most wonderful time of the year. Let us rejoice for the Lord has come.....

So, let me wish all my blog readers, "A Blessed Christmas, everyone and do have a Happy New Year 2007 as well"

Quote of the Day:

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

Heartsong