Big News with Dave Crampton
Spelling Christmas with an X
Well it’s that silly money-making season again – Wellington is renamed Middle Earth, Christmas parades turn into Santa
parades, we eat, drink and be merry until we’re overflowing wrecks and when writing out our Christmas cards spell
Christmas with an X.
Christmas is one of two times in the year that churches seem to have full pews as people try to find out the true
meaning of Christmas, and purge their guilt. The rest are happy to open their presents given to them by the big fat man
in the red suit. Maybe they are hoping for a few tickets to The Lord of the Rings in the Christmas stocking.
Yes, Christmas is the season when the two biggest movies of the year are released, milking the commercial Christmas
frenzy. It is the time of year when many artists cash in on Christmas with compilations of songs already released –
among the aging rockers this year are Pink Floyd and Sting.
It’s supposed to be the season of peace on Earth, the wise men, the star in the East and the baby in the manger – but
this year we’ve had everything but peace – or justice for that matter. There is war in Palestine, Israel, Afghanistan,
and Indonesia. Instead it is the season of Santa and spending.
Christmas is the time when shops ask you to “give the gift of Christmas” when they really mean spend, spend spend, which
is not giving at all. Maybe Christmas Eve should be renamed “Buy Nothing Day”. Christmas is not about the nativity
scene, it’s all about making money out of somebody’s birthday. That’s why retailers love Christmas.
After all, Christmas is somebody’s birthday. It is named after a Mr J Christ, not Mr. Malcolm X, so be careful with that
spelling: Christmas, not Xmas. You may want to discover the true meaning of Christmas at a communion- drinking
establishment near you.
Big News is on holiday until 20 January – unless there is some big news on the horizon….
- Dave Crampton is a Wellington-based freelance journalist. He can be contacted at davec@globe.net.nz