Christmas 2010

I have tried being in denial,but I just cannot get away from the feeling that 2010 is the year ,Christmas as we know it, ended. Here in my part of Australia, 260 kilometres south of Sydney is a micronism of the whole World experience as I see it.
Let me explain. It started for me , late November, with very little promotion by the major stores, who normaly get into gear as early as as late September. They ended up with little or no displays or celibration. The shopping centres were also pathetically devoid of decorstion or promotion in the traditional sense, even the Salvo's stayed at base and the group of so called Christian Curuches appear these days to operate like private clubs with majoriy paid up members.

I suppose the christmas celibration I am talking about is only eighty to one hundred years ols or is it a tad more with Dickens and " A Christmas Carol". i looked around and asked around enquiring as to the public appearance of Vicars; Pastors; Preists; Rabi's Salvos Captains and the like. I never saw one that I could identify and ceratinly not a visit or call from anybody of that nature. Woefully sad isn't it, onward I pressed for salvation.

Radio and Television,had given up almost altogether, very few Carols and Christmas programs, even on Christmas eve and Christmas day. The Australian National broadcaster failing abismaly.My vary local abc radio station shut down and we had some silly programs from Sydney, calling themselve, local radio, what a cheek.

As a family we did our best , christmas tree, excellent dinners with carols of yesteryear, half our family for christmas and half in the new year of 2011, when we will do it all over again in a different sort of way I suppose, more spiritual these days with quiet contemplation and thoughts for those we love.That terrible word - Hoever - I just cannot deny, that in my opinion and inner feeling, Christmas as we have come to know it has ended in the year of 2010, Amen

The mnew era is upon us and one that can of course be joyous, a time when we all can cellibrate the ending of the year and the coming of the new. We must all take the opportunity to embrace all Australians and our extended family of friends around the World ---Christians; Hindu; Budist; Muslim; Jew et al --- By name let it continue for a while. Natural integration and community spirit will do the rest.

All the best for 2011 and out and plases let Pease be with us all.

Malcolm E Mason . Australia Christmas 2010.