Page 7 - HGS Suburb News 144 - December 2020
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Youth C thousands of Christmas cards will Herald Angels Sing’ and ‘God Rest Ye companies have adopted the more
How Christmas came to be
hristmas is fast approaching and
Merry, Gentlemen’. Not least, Dickens
general slogan “Happy Holidays” and
be printed with each one depicting
coined the now famous phrase
it has even been suggested that we
stockings by the fireside, coloured ‘Merry Christmas’!
refer to the Christmas tree as a ‘Holiday
lights, and, of course, a Christmas tree.
We must also thank Queen Victoria Tree’ instead. Have you readers put up
But how did this universally celebrated
for making Christmas what it is today. your ‘Holiday Trees’ yet?
festival come to be the Christmas we all
While the original tradition of the
love today? And don’t think I have forgotten
‘Christmas tree’ came from Germany, about Santa Claus! Santa Claus is
Many are familiar with the religious the idea of decorating your tree with
significance of Christmas as the day actually based on a monk in Turkey
lights did not enter British culture until
Christ was born. Yet the origins of this called St Nicolas, who gave all his
winter celebration actually date back to an image of the royal family with their wealth away to the sick and poor, and
Christmas tree at Windsor Castle was
the Roman festival Saturnalia, in honour travelled around Europe protecting
of the God of Agriculture, Saturn. For children. He became famous less than
150 years ago when he was depicted in
one week in December, public banquets Celebrations of Light
were held and slaves were even given a cartoon, wearing his iconic red suit
and black boots.
freedom! What you readers may not
know, however, is that Christ’s real But Christmas has not always been he arrival of winter brings with it darkness at 5 o’clock
an innocent festival. In both the Soviet Tand even colder, wetter weather than before. Though
birthday is still a mystery. The day of
December 25th, was actually randomly Union and Nazi Germany, Christmas this can seem dismal, one upside is that against the
was seen as a threat. On Christmas backdrop of darkness, light shines even brighter. There
chosen to carry on the traditions of the
Saturnalia festival. Day in atheist Moscow, children were are several celebrations of light around this time of year,
encouraged to spit on crucifixes. In Chanukah (a Jewish festival) obviously being one, but
It may be difficult to believe, but
Christmas has not always been a part Nazi Germany, Christmas was stripped also Diwali (a Hindu/Jain/Sikh) festival (which Kaya has
of its religiousness and used as political written about in her article). The Suburb also celebrates
of our history. When the Puritans came
to power in 1647 , Christmas was cancelled! propaganda. It is interesting to reflect New Year’s Eve with a fireworks show, and there are many
on this often-forgotten darker history displays around Bonfire Night. Light as a symbol has
They believed Christmas was a wasteful
of Christmas. connotations of hope, happiness, and goodness, and the
festival which distracted from the pure
Even in Britain, before WWII, Christmas fact that it is celebrated across different cultures just
ideas of Christianity. Even in America,
had mostly been celebrated by the shows that these feelings are universal.
Christmas fell out of popularity after the
upper classes. Now, however, the beauty In the case of Chanukah, light is the physical
Americans revolted against the British
1848 engraving of the royal family decorating a tree.
of Christmas shines in its ability to bring representation of a miracle: that the candles could burn
because they considered Christmas to
printed in the news. Queen Victoria
be an English custom. everyone together, rich and poor, no for eight days when really there was only enough oil left
herself wrote: “My beloved Albert took for one. The story is one of success against the odds, hope
But then Charles Dickens came matter their culture or religion. Millions
me to my tree and table, covered by in the darkness, and the triumph of good over evil. The
along. You may be familiar with his of people celebrate Christmas not for
religious significance of Diwali varies, but the most
such numberless gifts, really too much, its religious significance, but because it
novel ‘A Christmas Carol’, which was too magnificent.” In modern terms, one
is a holiday! It is unique in that non- common belief is that it celebrates Rama and Sita’s defeat
the Christmas production at Henrietta
could say the image of the royal family
Christians and Christians alike partake of Ravana’s evil army. On their way back home, they were
Barnett last year. For the first time, around their Christmas tree went ‘viral’.
in the laughter and the holiday spirit, guided by the lights their neighbours had placed in their
Dickens portrayed Christmas as a time
What some people don’t realise is windows, and in honour of this, it is customary for people
of goodwill and generosity towards the making it truly universal.
that many customs we associate today celebrating Diwali to burn oil in ‘divas’ on their windowsills.
less privileged, and he popularised With the threat of Covid-19 robbing
with Christmas are actually very recent This is strikingly similar to the Jewish custom of lighting a
Christmas Carols such as ‘Hark the us of our big family Christmas, and in a
and have little to do with the festival’s
world becoming ever more polarised, Chanukiah (8 branched candlestick) and placing them
‘The Night Before Christmas’ by Clement C. Moore religious significance. Rudolph the Red
we are now in more need than ever of on their windowsills for all to see. Though from a religious
inspired the culture of giving gifts at Christmas.
nosed Reindeer was only invented in
some vital holiday spirit. point of view, Christmas is not actually about light, the
1939 as a way of luring customers into
ALLIE G beautiful displays of Christmas lights are one of the most
noticeable features of this time of year.
a Chicago department store! In fact,
there is still a lot of controversy around In the darkness of winter, seeing lights in people’s
windows or even fireworks in the sky can really brighten
whether Christmas is merely a national
my mood, at a time when hibernation can otherwise
holiday – a time of giving gifts and
seem like the most attractive option. There is something
sharing laughter – or a time of true
comforting and unifying about the fact that people all
religious significance. It’s even said that
the original meaning of Christmas has across the Suburb (and indeed all over the world) are
been “lost in a shopping spree”. celebrating different things in similar ways, as if the need
to create light in the midst of darkness is somehow
In reality, many people don’t celebrate
Christmas as a religious festival, but
ingrained in human nature.
enjoy the opportunity to not go to ROSA B
school or work and spend time with A gingerbread house I decorated, Christmas 2018.
family. Because of this, American card Today, gingerbread is a distinctive flavour often
associated with Christmas.
Become part of
Diwali: the community
Festival of Lights If you’d like to join the Suburb community, please complete and
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iwali is a festival observed throughout the world, mainly traditional designs and use a variety of colours, making them Postcode
Dby Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, which celebrates light over very vibrant and beautiful. Email
darkness, good overcoming evil and new beginnings and Food is also a major part of the celebrations, with an
opportunities. Diwali falls in late October to mid-November assortment of dishes being served. Indian sweets, otherwise Phone
as the dates come from the Hindu calendar and it will be known as Mithai are a staple part of Diwali, with most of them Subscription amount (Minimum payment £15) ....£
celebrated from 12 November to 16 November this year, with being made up of flour and sugar and then fried. Many sweet Fellowship donation* (Optional) ...................................£
festivities lasting up to a week. treats are covered in gold or silver edible paper and can come in (To support Fellowship, a Suburb charity, in its work for Suburb senior citizens)
The word ‘Diwali’ is derived from the Sanskrit (an ancient various shapes. Savory snack type dishes like samosas (triangle Total ..................................................................................................£
Indian language) word ‘Deepavali’, which means row of lighted shaped parcels filled with vegetables) or bhel which is made * I declare by making this donation that I want to Gift Aid my donations to
lamps, in recognition of the return of deities Rama and Sita to from puffed rice, vegetables and tamarind sauce are also Fellowship House and am a UK taxpayer paying sufficient tax to meet the Gift
Ayodhya after their 14-year exile. People celebrate by lighting enjoyed through the week. Aid on my donation. I agree to Fellowship receiving my details for this purpose.
candles or oil lamps also known as ‘diyas’, and placing them People wear traditional clothing, such as saris in bright (Delete the above declaration if you do not wish to Gift Aid your donation or do
not pay sufficient tax)
anywhere they can, in houses or places such as on doorsteps to colours and have temporary henna tattoos on their hands. It is
bring good energy into the home. Lighting candles can also be the perfect occasion for everyone to get dressed up in fancy I wish to pay:
seen as a way to invite prosperity and good fortune into a clothing. Many parties are also held which gives everyone an by cheque (payable to HGS Residents Association). Please write
household. Fireworks displays are popular too, whether at home excuse for even more dressing up! your address on the back of the cheque and send with this form to
with family, or hosted by the local temple, which brings the But in the end, Diwali is the best occasion for people to spend the address below.
community together to enjoy the moment. time with their loved ones, eating good food and having fun. It online via PayPal or with Credit or Debit Card – visit hgsra.uk/join
People also create Rangolis, beautiful patterns made from unites people across the world and helps people create fun by bank transfer to HGS Residents Association:
coloured powders and rice, on the floor, to decorate and as a memories that they will cherish for life. Diwali celebrations show Bank: HSBC, 897 Finchley Road, NW11 7NX Sort Code: 40-03-11
sign of good luck, especially at the entrances of houses, to invite a time of great festivity, light and colour! Account number: 91605747
good energy inside. Patterns can be anything from flowers to KAYA H Please return this form to: The Membership Secretary, HGS Residents
Association, PO Box 67700, London NW11 1NS. (SN144)
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