I know it's Christmas.

It is said that the older you become, primarily from childhood to adulthood, you lose that ‘Christmassy’ feeling, that feeling of warmth and special times of the year when it’s magic. When you graduate and enter the world of work, it becomes about parties and drinking and not having to go to work. Receiving presents is not of paramount importance anymore and buying them can be a chore. It is also said that Christmas is good with children because they are excited about presents and everything pertaining it.

I make Christmas lunch every year. Have done for about a decade or so. It’s pretty enjoyable and I do a decent job. This is the one day of the year, I will be sipping my coffee, half awake, hung over, in a dressing gown, with my hand up a bird’s bottom.

I wondered why this Christmassy feeling had left me in adulthood yet existed in so much abundance during childhood. What I am about to say may seem blindly obvious, it may not, so bear with me…

So. While I was peeling the potatoes I was thinking how many people were also peeling potatoes for their lunch. How many were peeling sprouts and checking their Turkey’s or Goose? I thought a sense of perhaps, ‘belonging’, knowing that so many people were peeling their potatoes at exactly the same time I was- like some metaphysical occurrence of collective potato peeling. And then I thought of how many people around the a world would be spending today with their loved ones and family. It seems many people around the world are enjoying, or at least trying to enjoy the company of family or friends and enjoying food all on the same day. Perhaps for many it was not so much a celebration of the birth of Christ, but just a celebration of their lives.

After having these thoughts I began to have that ‘Christmassy’ feeling again but not of presents or snow but instead a sense that a majority of the world was participating in the same positive thought and activity. And this gave me a sense of belonging, comfort and warmth.

On an end note I would like to write something about the unfortunate and tragic reality of everyday malnutrition and this time of year when half the population starts paying more attention to the problem and the other half forget. I recall the Band Aid song, ‘Do They Know it’s Christmas’. And I thought, what a stupid title for that song, because I’m pretty sure those starving people in Ethiopia couldn’t give a rat’s arse if it was Christmas or not. I’m sure they are just worried about when there next meal is going to be.

That comment is in no way related to what I think about what Bob Geldof and Midge Ure did to raise awareness of this inhumane reality.

- J

Ps. No pun intended with the use of ‘rat’ (Bob Geldof was formerly the lead vocals for the band, ‘Boomtown Rats’).