Bah, Humbug

What's the point of Christmas?

Christmas, the annual spectacle of consumption and sentimentality, begs for re-examination. We cling to this holiday as if it were the cornerstone of our culture, yet its relevance, significance, and authenticity have become questionable in a modern society where most of us neither embrace its religious origins, believe in its mythical characters, nor celebrate it for any meaningful astronomical event.

 

Let’s begin with religion. Christmas ostensibly commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, a central figure in Christianity. Yet, church attendance is dwindling, and the majority of the population identifies as non-religious. For many, the nativity story is no more than an archaic tale, no longer central to their lives or values. The holiday’s connection to faith has been diluted to the point where it is more about gift-giving than gospel. If Christmas is no longer a religious celebration for most, why do we persist in dressing it up with metaphysical, biblical pretensions?

From a historical perspective, there is no compelling reason why someone in Galilee would need to travel to Judea for a Roman census, as Roman practice did not operate this way. The account in Luke likely serves a theological purpose, aiming to place Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem in alignment with Jewish prophecy and to establish his Davidic lineage. Alternative facts from a post-truth era.

Then there’s Father Christmas, that jolly, rotund invention of folklore and commercialism. Few children truly believe in him beyond a certain age, and adults certainly don’t. The charade of Santa Claus, while charming for a brief moment in childhood, ultimately serves as a tool for marketing and manipulation. Parents are conscripted into perpetuating this myth, which invariably collapses, leaving many children disillusioned. If we’re honest, the myth of Santa is more about driving consumerism than fostering magic or wonder.

And what of its astronomical “significance”? The winter solstice, the actual celestial event, is several days before Christmas. Early Christians co-opted this pagan celebration to ease the transition from old religions to their new faith. Today, we’ve further dislocated Christmas from any seasonal or celestial meaning. It’s not about the shortest day of the year, the return of the light, or any natural cycle. It’s about sales targets and holiday marketing campaigns, as disconnected from nature as a plastic fir tree.

Moreover, Christmas thrives in a post-truth era, where sentimentality and manufactured traditions override facts and sustainability. We are sold the illusion of a perfect holiday, complete with glossy adverts and curated Instagram moments, all while ignoring the environmental devastation caused by our consumer habits. The holiday is crucial to the annual bottom line of companies peddling cheap, disposable tat - products often made in exploitative conditions and destined to pollute the planet for centuries. This veneer of joy and generosity hides a darker reality of waste, inequality, and environmental harm.

Interestingly, while Christmas falters in relevance, pantomime remains a surprisingly modern tradition. With its playful inversion of gender norms - where a woman dressed as a male prince marries a woman, or a male takes the part of a Dame - it epitomises LGBT inclusivity. Then there are persons of restricted growth and an Arab who is escaping thieves. This light-hearted yet subversive performance art resonates with contemporary values, offering a celebration that is both joyful and reflective of our evolving society. That said, an evil woman giving a young girl a dose of Rohypnol to sleep for 100 years is perhaps not PC these days.

The reality is that Christmas has become a hollow ritual, propped up by commercial interests and societal inertia. We’re guilt-tripped into spending money we can’t afford on gifts people don’t need, piling debt and stress onto what should be a time of rest. We’re told to feel festive, even as many of us battle loneliness, grief, or burnout. The holiday’s modern incarnation prioritises superficial cheer over genuine connection, materialism over meaning.

What if we reconsidered Christmas? Let’s strip away the pretence and examine what’s worth keeping. Do we need an annual ritual of enforced jollity and excessive spending, or could we reimagine this time of year as a celebration of what truly matters? Family, kindness, reflection, and rest—these are values worth championing, without the tinsel and pressure.

Perhaps it’s time to let it go or, at the very least, remake it into something meaningful for the present day.

How about The Festival of Light and Renewal, a modern, eco-conscious winter celebration that connects people with nature, honours the farming cycle, and welcomes the return of light after the winter solstice. Designed to replace wasteful, consumer-driven traditions, it focuses on sustainability, community, and the cycles of the earth. 

The festival spans a weekend and blends ancient practices with contemporary values. The first day begins with nature walks and workshops where participants create sustainable decorations such as beeswax candles and foraged wreaths. Farmers and gardeners share stories about the year’s harvest, encouraging reflection on the connection between food and the seasons. The day culminates in a communal feast, featuring locally sourced, seasonal dishes that celebrate the winter harvest. 

The second day centres on light rituals and renewal. Families and communities create biodegradable lanterns for a symbolic procession, illuminating hopes for the year ahead. Activities include tree planting and sowing seeds, fostering a commitment to sustainability. The festival concludes with a solstice bonfire, acoustic music, and reimagined traditional songs celebrating light, warmth, and the promise of spring. 

This festival reimagines winter traditions as an opportunity to celebrate nature, community, and meaningful connection. By focusing on sustainability and the rhythms of the earth, it offers a thoughtful, modern alternative to conventional celebrations.

Obviously it's not for townies or Reform voters.

Merry Christmas to my remaining reader! Oh, have you noticed how Merry Christmas has transformed into Happy Christmas? Apparently that's because the Old Queen preferred to use Happy rather than Merry because Merry sounded too raucous - and it caught on.