Hooray!! IT
IS DECEMBER HOLIDAYS AGAIN!!
The December holidays are here with us again and everyone in
the society knows what that means. Whenever December arrives, there is much
anticipation on my part about everything ranging from the best of moments to
the worst. So many things happen, some with everlasting wonderful effect upon
our lives while others with perpetual devastating effect. I do love as well as
hate December holidays with passion. Why? I can hear you asking. Then read on.
WHY I LOVE DECEMBER HOLIDAYS
Family Reunions
For most people, this is the only time we get to be
re-united with our families. People meet
relatives they have not seen for quiet sometime or a long time. Many people
organize family get-together at this season since they anticipate many people
will be free and available. Also many people travel to “ocha, ushagoo, shagz”
[upcountry] at this time and they meet their relatives whom they have not seen
for a long time. At times we even meet some new born relatives who call us
uncles/aunts and we do not know them yet!
We get to see our old folks who do not seem as they would
like to move away from the village for their own reasons. During this time, we
are thrilled by the idea of rediscovering the ties we had with those we are
related before we forget them altogether [and probably end up marrying our
step-sisters/brothers, cousins since we did not know them in good time!]
Friends’ Reunions
Friends are also not left out in the re-unions. When we go
to the village (for those who really goes), we get to meet our childhood
friends who are still living in the rural areas or probably travelling to the
rural area too. Some were schoolmates, childhood friends, etc. Here we get to
know of each other whereabouts, what
happened to who, their fortunes and misfortunes in life, who has married who,
who is still single and searching, etc. The joy is marked in our faces when we
meet those who we really cherished during our childhoods and we parted due to
life’s ups and downs. Who do you wish to meet this holiday?
Parties and Parties
During December holiday, there are so many parties marked by
myriad occasions e.g. wedding, graduations since many people finish school at
this time, initiation ceremonies for those cultures still practicing the rite
of passage,[ Mburi ya Kiama], Kikuyu for a rite of passage from being a boy to
a responsible man in the community, family get together party, etc. There is
joy and music crowning the events. Others dance till they drop down with
tiredness. We drink what we desire and we eat to our fill rare foods. We are
free with the world and our surrounding and we mix with many people who we do
not normally have around. We get to explore the heights and depths of our joy
and to many this is the only time during the year when they are stress free.
Make maximum use of your holiday. King
Solomon once said, “A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but
money answereth all things. Ecclesiastes 10:19 (King James Version (1769)” Be
happy during this holiday.
Relationships and Love
During this time, we get to meet new people. We make new
friends who may end up being friends for life. Also we get to meet new members
of the opposite sex who we may develop romantic feelings for; it is an
opportunity to hook up with a lover who eventually may end up being your spouse.
Also at this time we do buy so many gifts for the ones we love and this enhances
the love even more. If you really wish to win someone’s heart, the best ways
are through gifts. “A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before
great men. Proverbs 18:16 (King James Version (1769)”
For some, it is time to make up for the past. Those who had
broken relationships and marriages due to the thrill of holidays may make up
during this time and bury the hatchet. Many people do indeed forgive at this time and
forget the past. Grudges are forgotten between some people who may meet and
drink a beer over the matter and let it be buried behind the curtain of passing
time. Many people hate the idea of celebrating in a bad mood and that is why
they choose to forgive others. Enhance your Love and relationships during this
month.
Gifts from people
“A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before
great men. Proverbs 18:16”, Said King Solomon in his immense wisdom. This is a
time of giving and receiving gifts. At times we do get gifts we never thought
of from people we least expect. A gift endears you to the recipient and it is
also a way of enhancing interpersonal relationships with these people. It may
be as simple as a card or as complex as a car. It all depends with your income,
capabilities and willingness. Just give someone a gift this holiday and enhance
your relationship with him/her. It is for your own good.
Travel
During this time we get to travel to places we ever wanted.
Many people visit destinations of their choice and affordability and enjoy the
beautiful breathtaking sceneries of Mother Nature. People from up country visit
coastal regions for the first time just to see Indian Ocean and swim. Others
visit parks and game reserves, historical sites, cultural sites etc. We get to
learn a lot during the times of travel and if we can afford to have a photo in
this places the better for us. Swahili people say, “Kutembea kwingi ni kujua
mengi”. Means to travel a lot is to know a lot. Need I say more?
Business boom
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| Click to Enlarge..........Wishing you happy Holidays |
For those who are in the travel and tourism industry, this
is a time to make good money. Also those selling items like Cameras, shoes,
clothes, food stuffs etc they know that during this time business doubles. For
those offering services like photography also know the joy of serving their
customers during December Holiday.
Religion and worship
I would be so unfair not to mention the fact that during
this time many people feel closer to God due to celebrating the Birthday of
Jesus Christ on 25th December every year. Christmas carols are sung
all over. Holy aura fills our churches and homes and also during this time some
people dedicate their lives to Christ as a New Year resolution or due to
feeling grateful to God for enabling them sail the year without major problems.
Christians all over the world unite to celebrate the most popular day in
Christendom and we temporarily forget our denominational differences.
Other religions also get caught up with the tide due to the
magnitude of the day, even the Muslim and Hindu worlds also observe the day
either directly or indirectly.
What other reasons do you have for loving December Holidays?
WHY I HATE DECEMBER HOLIDAYS
Extravagance
During this time many people tend to over spend and live
beyond their means. A lot of money that could be used for other important
activities goes to waste in the name of enjoying and by the end of December, many will be as broke as a church mouse. We drink a lot, we become
gluttons, and we wear expensively and go to places where we normally do not go.
We buy expensive gifts to please others. As we do all these remember some
people in this world do not have anything to eat, have nothing to drink, have
no homes and are destitute. Please remember such in your holiday. Help the poor
and disabled in the society and this way God will bless you even more.
Hypocrisy
Why should you wait to show your love to me for a whole damn
year by buying me a gift during this holiday? Why should you visit the
unfortunate in the society during this time and pretend to care for them were
they not people during the other months? Why do you suddenly fall in love with
me during this time [and probably we are drunk], were I not beautiful/handsome
during the other times? Also some at this time pretend to be so holy, go to churches
often, praise God so many times, become artificially generous to many people
and also “get saved”. It is called festivity syndrome.
Social Immorality
During this time, many people over indulge to an extent of
getting loose. They let go their manners, engage in loose sexual activities. It
is during this time many people break their virginity, get pregnant [wanted or
unwanted]; get venereal diseases and HIV/AIDS. People engage in so many evil
activities all in the name of enjoying their holiday that they later regret and
feel sorry for them. Better safe than sorry.
During this time, many people are rapped or get sexually
molested. Many others are mugged, beaten or even killed. Thugs take advantage
of the fact that many are carefree during this time and do harm to them
including stealing from them. It is during this time many people taste alcohol for their first time.
Accidents
As many people are travelling, the Matatu operators in their
bid to maximize profits tend to over speed and this endangers so many lives.
Also those with personal vehicles are not spared either as they at times drive
when drunk, in a hurry or simply are not well experienced on the road and since
they are free, the go to practice on our roads (unfortunately, some for their
last time). So many people die on our roads while travelling to and from their
various destinations. Just observe safety on the road during this festive season. We still need you later on in life.
Perpetuating a Lie
The only instance in the bible where the 25th day
of the twelfth month is mentioned is this, “And
it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin
king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in
the five and twentieth day of the month, that Evil–merodach king of Babylon
in the first year of his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah,
and brought him forth out of prison, Jeremiah 52:31 (King James Version (1769) “ Nothing else is said about the day in
the bible. So where did the idea that Jesus was born on 25th
December come from?
First, let’s look at December 25. The first record of
December 25 being Jesus’ birthday is found in the writings of Hyppolytus, who
lived from 170-236 A.D. December 25 is also identified as Jesus’ birthday in
the writings of John Chrysostom and Cyril of Jerusalem. There is good reason to
be suspicious of December 25, however. The days immediately proceeding December
25 were the days on which the Romans celebrated Saturnalia, a festival for the
Roman titan Saturn. Many believe that December 25 was chosen so that Christmas
would replace Saturnalia. Some Christmas traditions do seem to be similar to
aspects of the ancient Saturnalia celebration.
There is absolutely nothing in the Bible which indicates the day, or even time of year, that Jesus was born. Based on information given regarding the conception of John the Baptist (Luke 1), some Bible scholars believe the fall, September-October, would be a much more likely time for Jesus’ birth. Whatever the case, the key point is that the Bible does not say on what day Jesus was born. So, ultimately, December 25 is no more or less likely to be Jesus’ birthday as any other day of the year.
Second, in regards to Christmas traditions, it is absolutely true that Christmas trees, bells, candles, lights, holly, mistletoe, Santa Claus, reindeer, etc., etc., have nothing to do with what the Bible says about Jesus’ birth. Some of these traditions do have clear parallels in non-Christian religions and/or pagan origins. At the same time, none of these traditions are evil, sinful, or anti-Christian in and of themselves. If a person is bowing down to a Christmas tree and worshipping it, yes, obviously that is a sin. But, if a Christmas tree is simply a decoration, it is no more or less wrong than any other decoration. The determining factor in the rightness/wrongness of it is faith (Romans 14:23).
There is absolutely nothing in the Bible which indicates the day, or even time of year, that Jesus was born. Based on information given regarding the conception of John the Baptist (Luke 1), some Bible scholars believe the fall, September-October, would be a much more likely time for Jesus’ birth. Whatever the case, the key point is that the Bible does not say on what day Jesus was born. So, ultimately, December 25 is no more or less likely to be Jesus’ birthday as any other day of the year.
Second, in regards to Christmas traditions, it is absolutely true that Christmas trees, bells, candles, lights, holly, mistletoe, Santa Claus, reindeer, etc., etc., have nothing to do with what the Bible says about Jesus’ birth. Some of these traditions do have clear parallels in non-Christian religions and/or pagan origins. At the same time, none of these traditions are evil, sinful, or anti-Christian in and of themselves. If a person is bowing down to a Christmas tree and worshipping it, yes, obviously that is a sin. But, if a Christmas tree is simply a decoration, it is no more or less wrong than any other decoration. The determining factor in the rightness/wrongness of it is faith (Romans 14:23).
For more information Refer to
The amount of evil things that happen during this festive
season are so many even outweigh the good things and I cannot possibly cover
all of them here but am left wondering, are we celebrating the birth of the Son
of God or the son of Lucifer?
What other reasons do you have for hating December Holidays?
All in all am wishing you Happy and Wonderful Holidays.
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