What does Christmas mean in 2024?
This year the traditional image of Christmas as a peaceful celebration with Christian roots uniting families and society is showing major signs of wear and tear. Commentators take a closer look.
Missing Jesus
In El País, columnist Sergio C. Fanjul remembers the Christ Child:
“Of all the prophets, magicians and charlatans who were bustling about in the dusty Galilee of his times, he stood out and shaped the existence of humanity with his ideas. The greatest influencer in history. ... Jesus was once not only in nativity scenes, but also in songs, at church services, in shop windows, in lights and on television. ... Now Jesus is hardly ever seen on his birthday. I miss baby Jesus at Christmas. ... Christ, who laid down the golden rule of ethics - love your neighbour as thyself. ... He drove the merchants out of the temple and now his birthday is full of merchants, because the merchants have conquered the world, because everything is business - especially Christmas.”
Well-intentioned but counterproductive
Göteborgs-Posten finds it problematic when companies and organisations wish people 'Happy holidays' instead of 'Merry Christmas' to avoid offending religious minorities in Sweden:
“Exaggerated consideration for those of us who don't celebrate Christmas is not inclusive, even if that's the intention behind it. It is exclusive. Although it stems from the desire to do the right thing, in the end it is simply wrong. When you tell people how they should and should not behave towards people from other cultures, it leads to a wariness and nervousness that only creates greater distance and less understanding between people.”
Loneliness as a new pandemic
taz newspaper draws attention to the problem of loneliness at Christmas:
“Especially those people who have no family or anything similar feel lonely. In this country, it used to be mainly older people, but now it mainly affects single parents, women, people with little money and younger people. ... Networking in the neighbourhood, attending groups for fellow sufferers, ringing the hotline, buying a dog, doing sport, listening to music, cooking with others. There's nothing wrong with what politicians, social organisations, health insurance companies and therapists all suggest, but in the end, will it help at all? ... Perhaps we should call loneliness what it is: a new pandemic. Politicians can respond to this - with a less antisocial policy.”