Tiny Tim

Whilst I see most of my friends celebrate Christmas Day with their honey-glazed ham, suckling pig, poppers, Christmas tree decorations, gift unwrapping, gingerbread house demolition, Christmas carols, playing Santa Claus, Christmas-themed games, my family, however, don’t feel as festive. My family came from a Buddhist country and Christmas is not celebrated there although Christmas is now translated and celebrated in certain non-Christian areas like Hong Kong and Macau. What distinguishes them from the fictional characters Ebenezer Scrooge and The Grinch, is that they don’t dislike Christmas but they feel their religion does not warrant them to commemorate an historical figure. They treat Christmas Day as another ordinary rest day from work and they go about their usual chores in the garden. I constantly hear their envy whenever we pass by a neighbour’s house lit up with a luminescent Christmas light show but we never commit an effort to setting up our own Christmas light display. The only Christmas decoration we casually put up is a Santa calendar and a randomly-chosen stocking hanging on a door knob. In public, I feel they say “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year” to their customers just for the sake of fitting in to Australian society. Although all they care about is their own money and own self, they’re not as cold-hearted towards the public and their hearts don’t coincidentally grow three sizes and then miraculously understand the true meaning of Christmas. Fortunately they’re not one of those people who lack Christmas spirit and blather “Bah! Humbug!” during this annual festive season.

Cindy Lou Who meeting the Grinch in his home - A popular screenshot for memes

You say this phrase to your friends and family. You write this phrase on every Christmas card. What does it actually mean to say and write “Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year”? Some people write Happy Christmas or say Happy Holidays but those alternatives are also largely accepted by the Christian society. The word “merry” is derived from the Old English, meaning pleasant rather than joyous. Although Christmas was officially a holiday from the 4th century AD onwards, the first known use of this religious greeting dates back to around 22nd December 1534, where John Fisher wrote season’s greetings and “Merry Christmas” in a formal letter to Thomas Cromwell, recorded in the Strype Ecclesiastical memorials, 1816.
And this our Lord God send you a mery Christmas, and a comfortable, to your heart’s desire.
The phrase did not take off in Christian society especially in America until the publication of Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol in 1843, during the early reign of Queen Victoria. During the same year on 1st May, the phrase also appeared on the first ever commercially sold Christmas card in London. However Queen Elizabeth II preferred the phrase “Happy Christmas”, because she argues ‘merry' not only means 'pleasant, peaceful and agreeable', but also frivolous and inebriation. This explains why some people in the UK prefer to use the terms “Happy Holidays” and “Happy Christmas” instead.

Illustration on first commercially-sold Christmas card by John Callcott Horsley, commissioned by Sir Henry Cole

— On 4 BC Jesus Christ, also known as Jesus of Nazareth, was born in a stable in Herodian Tetrachy, Roman Empire, now contemporarily known in modern society as Christmas Day depending on the calendar you have i.e. Gregorian or Julian. It is believed that Jesus founded Christianity, which made Christians believed he was the Son of God and the long-awaited Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament. His crucifixion on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday in AD 30/33, known as Good Friday, marks his honorary passing followed by his resurrection during the Easter festivities. Based on the approximate birth date of Jesus because clocks weren’t invented then and the only calendar around was the Mayan Calendar which didn't measure daily time during that era, our calendars now refer the year as AD, from the Latin Anno Domini meaning “in the year of our Lord”, and BC abbreviated from Before Christ. Although most of us around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus, we strangely don’t commemorate the birth of other people who were born on the same day and year as him. Although the exact date of Jesus’ birth are not known, by the 4th century the Western Christian Church placed Christmas Day on December 25th, a date later adopted in the East. It is not known why December 25th was chosen as the date we celebrate Christmas today, but it’s possible on this day marks the winter solstice on the Roman Calendar and Jesus’ identification with the Sun based on the Old Testament.
— Christmas is short for Christ’s mass, derived from the Middle English Cristemasse, which is from the Old English Crīstesmæsse, a phrase first recorded in 1038. Crīst is derived from the Greek, translated from Hebrew for Messiah, meaning anointed and mæsse is from the Latin massa, the celebration of the Eucharist.

Every Christmas story always features Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick or Father Christmas, who travels in his beautifully-crafty red sleigh with his flying deers carrying his large sack of gifts for every well-behaved child and coal for the misbehaved across the globe. We all know that on Christmas Eve, families place milk and cookies near the fireplace where Santa Claus will pop through the chimney, consume the sweet and crunchy treat and happily deliver the gifts under the decorated Christmas Tree. Of course, he cannot accomplish this annual journey quickly and quietly without his trusted army of elves. There is some controversy on whether this legendary figure of children’s Christmas tales is fictional or not. If his presence were to be true, what were his exact origins?
The popular illustration of Santa we all know today was drawn by political cartoonist Thomas Nast in 1881, with its appearance described in a 1823 poem “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore. His memorable chuckle “Ho ho ho” was actually inspired by his poem with the excerpt below and the postal code in Canada Post when letters are sent to Santa Claus.
“… a little round belly
That shook when he laugh’d, like a bowl full of jelly”

Early Illustration of Santa Claus by Thomas Nast, 1881

Every Christmas always feature decorations including baubles, tinsel, lights, pine trees, stockings, stars on top of the Christmas trees, wreaths, mistletoes, candles, angels, candy canes and bells. The traditional colours of pine green (evergreen), snow white, heart red and gold have religious significance. The heart-shaped leaves of ivy symbolises the coming to earth of Jesus, while holly was as protection against pagans and witches, and its thorns and red berries represents the Crown of Thrones worn by Jesus at his crucifixion and the blood he shed. The green symbolises eternal life, for instance the evergreen tree because its leaves doesn’t die in the winter, and gold is the first colour associated with Christmas, as one of the 3 gifts of the Magi, symbolising royalty. Although it doesn’t snow in Australia during December because of its summer season, white refers to visually visible environment of snow-covered grounds in the northern hemisphere. Do you hear that merry singing in the air? As the Grinch listens dazed and confused trying to understand why Christmas came without gifts and decorations, it is evident Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without its own music in the form of carols (hymns). The word ‘carol’ originated from the French ‘carole’ in the 1100s, meaning a popular circle dance accompanied by singing. This reinforces unity and belonging in respective communities which suggests Christmas is about everyone joining in the celebrations no matter who they are or what they look like.

Snoopy and the Peanuts singing carols in Merry Christmas Charlie Brown

While you enjoy your delicious Christmas feast including the roast beast and joyfully sing those Christmas carols, remember there are men, women and children out there living in poverty, resting in hospital beds on life support and experiencing homelessness. It would be honourable and gratifying to acknowledge their presence and give some of your Christmas love to them and put a smile on their solemn faces. Your empathy and kind, caring words will suffice as a precious and invaluable gift for them. No matter where you are on Earth, there will always be something Jesus Christ can give to you and protect your goodwill.

I wish you all a Merry/Happy Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Hogmanay and a safe and wonderful New Year. On a last note, i also wish Jesus Christ a Happy Birthday.