So this is Christmas and what have you done?

The lyrics to the John Lennon classic "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)" from 1971 – set in another time, place and about the war in Vietnam, still resonate 50 years later.

And so this is Christmas

For weak and for strong

For rich and the poor ones

The war is so long

The song was written as a protest and to raise awareness, the Vietnam war didn’t end till 4 years later, it lasted 20 years. There are still long-running wars all over the world, in addition to the other ongoing ‘battles’ we all have to fight on many fronts. Over our environment, the effects of social and economic inequality, the health crisis and the resultant overall uncertainty in a world where all our perceived ‘norms’ have been upended.

Lennon’s lyrics highlighted a tough subject wrapped up in the general benevolence of Christmas and also underlined the universality of the festival – it involves the rich, poor, weak, strong – but for each group the impact of the celebration is so different and not always the ‘season to be jolly’.

It was in this spirit that the recent Omnirama Clubhouse discussion on “Why Christmas is Once a Year” brought to light the staggering cost of how commercialised Christmas has become and the damage it causes us a society and environmentally. As demonstrated by the first ‘Covid’ Christmas last year, gift sales in the USA alone amounted to $789.4 billion, with 41% of Americans willing to take on debt for festive shopping (NRF statistics).

So this once a year “Season of Goodwill” could mean bankruptcy for many people in their aims to provide Christmas extravaganzas for friends and family. Manipulated by the commercialisation of the Season, pushed by mighty corporates and companies who just want us all to spend, spend, spend celebrating just one day a year. It’s also galling to think that in the US alone $15.2 billion is the estimated total cost of unwanted, unused presents – a waste of money coupled with wasted resources. A lose-lose all-round!

So what have we done to Christmas? Why has a festival with an underlying message of peace and goodwill to all humankind regardless of religious beliefs, be turned into a relentless festival of competitive consumerism? This persistent ‘obsession’ for the glitz, glamour and tinsel clouds our view that 8 million adults of all ages are expected to be alone in the UK, with 83% of them unlikely to speak to anyone face to face on Christmas Day and this is especially acute for 1 million older people. (Statistics The Independent/Age UK). Last winter more than 60,000 UK households were tipped into homelessness, despite the Covid evictions ban. (Shelter).

The prevailing spirit of Christmas seems to magnify the fissures that exist in society – our disconnectedness from others, the loss of community and our basic human values. We have lost its true meaning because consumerism has overshadowed the celebration. Whether we are individuals or organisations an honest genuine heartfelt thoughtful gesture actually means more than another tick box exercise because ‘tis the season to ditch being Scrooge and we have to be nice.

So this Christmas ask yourself what have you done? What have you done to make things just a little better and more importantly a positive action isn’t just for Christmas - it’s for life!

Photo: John B. Henderson/Rethinking Prosperity. Placards with Buy More Stuff in a crowd