Behind Day 5 of my Advent calendar is:
A BONE OF CONTENTION
In recent years our family has played a game in the weeks running up to Christmas in which the winner is the last person to hear the song ‘The Fairytale of New York’. Thanks to a poorly timed visit to the Exeter branch of ‘White Stuff’ on November 28th, I’ve already been eliminated and can only hope to do better in a similar game, one which, since I play it by myself I always win. This version of the game is won when one hears a version of the following phrase that is commonly heard at this time of year, :
‘Christmas – of course it’s really just a time for the children’
Every time I hear these words, like an enthusiastic member of a pantomime audience, I want to slap my thigh and scream, ‘Oh no it’s not!’ And the reason why I am tempted be so vociferous is simply this – that though Christmas is, of course, for the children, those who say as such invariably are implying it’s not for older folk like me and, perhaps, you.
But it is!
Because the angel who announced the news of Jesus birth to the shepherds was very clear. ‘Fear not,’ he said ‘for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for ALL the people.’
So whilst you may be looked at a little oddly if, in your late 50’s, you queue up at your local garden centre to visit Santa in his grotto (trust me on this one, you will), nobody is EVER too old for Christmas.
And that includes you!
*****
Today’s song is, inevitably, ‘A Fairytale of New York’ by The Pogues and featuring Shane MacGowan and Kirsty Kirsty MacColl, both sadly now dead. Anyone who plays the game that our family does, and hasn’t yet been eliminated, probably shouldn’t click to hear this Christmas classic!
Previously from ‘A Christmas Countdown’:
To read ‘A Christmas Countdown – Day 4’, click here
To read ‘A Christmas Countdown – Day 3’, click here
To read ‘A Christmas Countdown – Day 2’, click here
To read ‘A Christmas Countdown – Day 1’, click here
Other related posts:
To read ‘On approaching one’s sell by date’, click here
To read ‘Vaccinating to Remain Susceptible’, click here
To read ‘Shot of Love’, click here
Some musings 