TheAuthor:Community
Walking Back - in theDays of Cayman Past
The Christmas story
There are always two longed-for and looked-forward-toseasons of the year; a time that the world awaits with keen expectancy.People do have different motives and varied plans as to how eitherof the seasons is spent.
Easter belongs to the first quarter of the year, of course, andit bears quite a different sentiment from Christmas. It is a knowncustom worldwide to rejoice when a baby is born into the family,and for the heart to be heavy with grief when a family memberdies.
With Christmas, on the other hand, we are looking at life andlove combined to cheer the hearts of mankind. What is Christmas,anyway? Is it just another simple holiday?
Not really so, when one looks keenly at the significance of thetime. Here is seen the reality of the love of God and Christ forlost humanity. "For God so loved the world, that He gaveHis only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shouldnot perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16.
Although Christmas is a pagan-instituted holiday, appointed byConstantine to be observed throughout Christendom, yet the sacrednesshas taken deep root in the Christian community in many countriesthe world over; the world seeks to celebrate the birth of Christ.
It was first mentioned as being December 25, in the time of Constantinein the Year 325 AD, and was accepted by Protestants and RomanCatholics alike, as being truly the birthday of Christ. However,there is no true record anywhere of the date of Christ's birthday.Nevertheless, it is a most comforting thought, knowing that Christwas born.
The word 'Christmas' was coined from the words 'Christ' and 'Mass',the latter taken to mean a series of religious services in commemorationof the birth of Christ. The day is celebrated harmoniously inkeeping with the events surrounding the story as recorded in Luke2: 1 - 20 and Matt.1: 18 - 2:12. These scriptures are read andre-read over and over during the festive season.
Even so, though, various religions celebrate different dates.For example, the Eastern Orthodox Church holds January 6 as hesacred day, while the Armenian Church celebrates on January 19.The Catholics and the Protestants alike think of December 25 asthe day to be revered.
While the Bible is very emphatic about the birth of Christ, yet,the scriptures are quite silent about the time of the event. Nowhereis it hinted or recorded. This leaves one to wonder why is theresuch a silence surrounding the date of an event of such magnitude.
Be that as it may, however, the day is celebrated in a magnanimousway; the Christian community looks at it piously, and some veryreverently. The worldly, on the other hand, see it as a time ofgluttony and drunkenness, with dancing and carousing.
Heaven, no doubt, knew that a lot of God's creatures would worshipthe time instead of the reason for the event had the date beenmade known. Nevertheless, Christians in the Cayman Islands evenas everywhere else anxiously look forward to December 25.
Many people spend months preparing in advance of Christmas; Christmasis known as a time for gifts, giving and receiving. The exchangeof gifts is a norm on Christmas Day; this seems to have been alongstanding tradition in society.
My mind takes me back to my childhood days, 70 or more years agowhen children hung up stockings on Christmas-eve night in anticipationof Santa Claus leaving a gift for them, while, as good boys andgirls, they slept during the night.
The gifts were truly small in those days when compared with today'slavish presentations. However, the children appreciated what theyreceived; some firecrackers, perhaps, and some Christmas candies,marbles, a mouth organ or even school things - all according tothe means of the family. The main thing was that there was usuallysomething for everyone.
The girls always received gifts that were in accordance with theirsex, so they, of course, had more expensive gifts than did theboys. There was always new clothes for everyone for Christmas,and people who ever went to church even once after Easter, turnedout on Christmas Day, if only to show-off their new dresses andshoes. Those were items reserved for just such an occasion.
The menfolk who worked in foreign countries made their way homewardin December to make the family's happiness complete, bringingwith them all the goodies they acquired during the months leadingup to Christmas.
At home, the Christmas preparations were continuous; there wasthat specially-fattened cow or pig ready to be butchered. Whilecash was low and slow in coming, yet, here and there, a few shillingswere laid aside from time to time to spend on the family, eventhough there was nothing to start the new year with.
The oldtimers really revered Christmas Day, even above Sunday.No one went to work on that day. In fact, the observed one fullweek of festivities right into New Year's Day.
This, then, is the story of Christmas. Next week, we will seehow the old folks 'did their thing' at Christmas.
TheAuthor:
Mr. Percival Jackson, known throughoutthe Cayman Islands as "Will" Jackson, is a born EastEnder. He is a man of many experiences: A Home Guard during WorldWar Two; A former policeman, a seaman for 22 years who sailedaround the world; and a retired businessman.
Mr. Will has been a Justice of the Peace for the past 20 yearsand a Marriage Officer, whose one greatest interest is preachingthe gospel.
He is the author of three books, one which will be published ina few weeks. Obviously, his pastime is in writing of life in theold days of Cayman, and he has written many local articles forthe local media.
The pride of his life is his wife, Miss Sybil Harris of GeorgeTown, whom he married 35 years ago. They are now retired, enjoyinglife together, living in East End, by the Sea.