Christmas
What is Christmas? It is not just a time of year. It is a memory, a thank-you for peace, safety, tranquillity, respect and love throughout the world. It is a Christian festival that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. An icon of Jesus is displayed, a fir tree is decorated, presents and cards are exchanged, carols are sung and Father Christmas arrives.
Christmas is really about goodwill, the value of peace, forgiveness and the embrace of family.
It is such an important festival for Christians that during World War 1, German and British troops carried out an informal ceasefire in order to celebrate Christmas and sing hymns.
Yet, even though at Christmastime families gather together, and goodwill and love prevail, thousands of refugees continue to live in the camps, yearning for hope and kindness.
Thousands of refugees are waiting for the moment of family unification. They are hoping that they can all be together again and that their homes will be filled once again with joyful voices and laughter, rather than with tears.
New Year and St Basil
St Basil was born in the 4th century AD and was religious from a very young age.He dedicated his whole life to Christianity. He was renowned for his kindness and generosity and for his help and support for the poor and all who were suffering.
Orthodox Christians believe that St Basil is a kindly, good-hearted old man who hands out presents at New Year, especially to poor children, in order to fill their hearts with hope and joy.
It seems that thousands of old men with a white beard and red clothes will dress up as St Basil this New Year, climb onto a sleigh pulled by three reindeer and will offer presents to children everywhere, bringing joy to their hearts and giving them hope for a good, peaceful and tranquil year.
Yet, for refugee children, this will not be the case. It would seem that the various St Basils have forgotten the refugees and their children, and don’t have any gifts to give them and make them happy.
If only war would cease once more for Christmas, as it did in 1914. If only war and the worries of the world would cease once more so that the hopelessness and hardship faced by refugees the world over would also stop.
I don’t know why one of the many St Basils doesn’t go beyond the decorated trees and fairy lights, reach the barbed wire and cut it, so that the promise of Christmas for peace, safety and harmony can come true for everyone.
I hope that there will come a Christmas and New Year when the fairy lights will illuminate the hearts of thousands of refugees once more and that a significant change for good will occur all over the world.
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