Childhood at Christmas Sparing a thought for those in need

As the days close in towards Christmas I am inspired by Sri Lankan families who celebrate the festival believing in the importance of co-existence. Parents are going back to hand-made Christmas cards and posting them physically on behalf of their children to their parents and relatives. Grandparents are donning hardly used aprons and flouring their pastry boards to make the long forgotten goodies with their young grandchildren. I guess we can say it’s the most wonderful time of the year! Children are the focus of attention and most of what they demand, they receive. Such is the spirit of the season. It is somewhat a marketing gimmick but quite addictive to most.

Words : Shanthi Wijesinghe

Christmas is unquestionably a time for young children. We may never experience white Christmas but we most definitely feel the nip in the air and the chill of the morning breeze. The magic of the season is not for that one faith. There are aspects to the season we have forgotten over the years. If we can stop a moment to recall the Christmases of our childhood and youth, we may be able to pass down the ideal gifts of thought to the young generation. 

• It is not a time for expenditure beyond our means
• It is a time for sharing - not giving away threadbare clothes to those in need of clothing
• It is a time to bond with aging relatives and family friends
• It  is the best time to set home routines and some simple disciplines
• Give children a time to build memories: organize family events and short outings: a bus/ train ride, riverside cooking, picnics in off road clearings
• Stay away from artificial and commercial events
• Organize Christmas story readings with popcorn in small paper bags
• For a really fruitful experience in nature try the Seethawaka Botanical Gardens

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