BY PIUS MAUNDU
@piusmaundu
On Thursday, the world will unite in
celebrating Christmas. In its pristine, December 25th is the day Christians
commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. This is stoked by millions of believers who
troop to churches to sing carols, give offerings, and pray.
But that does not mean that Christmas is
observed only by Christian faithfuls. In fact, telling from the activities on
this day, Christmas, just like Halloween, is quickly assuming a secular appeal,
and a disenchanted followership. It’s a petridish for consumerism in society.
For a long time, Christmas meant the
excitement that comes with acquiring new clothes, and visiting eateries in town
for fries. Going to Sunday school on Christmas day meant walking home an
assortment of sweets and biscuits.
I envied my friends who recited Bible verses,
especially the lucky one who landed ‘Jesus wept,’ as they got rewarded with
plastic plates and cups, and more sweets.
But then I would steel up, knowing that later
in the day, we shall feast on chapati,
and roast goat meat as we converge around the fireplace. I’m convinced that
scores can relate with my Christmas story as they grew up. This narrative has
not changed much today.
Christmas is synonymous with merry-making and travelling
to the country side. The mania at Machakos Country Bus terminus with travellers
loading sack loads of rice, sugar, and bales of wheat flour, cabbage heads, and
potatoes on the roof carriers of buses is manifestation of this human
migration.
The affluent, those especially on their first
car, cruise to the village in style. Car rentals register good business around
this time. Clients-afraid to be seen as if they came to the city to idle
around- hire the most recent spruced self-drives-mostly fuel guzzlers- to the
village.
In total disregard to the reason for the Christmas
season, the middle class city folk driving to their villages abandon their
lowly neighbors to scramble for seats at public servive jalopies. On these matatus, travellers are fleeced at least
three times what they normally pay as their one-way fares home.
And so materialism makes the sleepy village
towns lively once again.
On the actual Christmas day, the spaces local
churches reserve for bicycles and motorcycles are jammed with an assortment of
cars driven by brethren from far and wide who, from the wanting development on
the churches, had hitherto lost touch with the houses of God.
Before long, the cars would thin out as their
their owners and passengers respond to calls of nature at facilities at the
local bars. Nights would find the city folk perched on the various sina taabu at the bars belting tales of
the city, and bragging on the relative prowess of their smartphone apps as they
freeze the moments through selfies while downing the dearest alcohol brands
stocked at the local joints.
This is not all.
Holidayers go for more secluded getaways. With
the insecurity bite on the classic holiday destinations in Kenya, this cohort
will certainly prefer flying their families and dear ones to such places as Zanzibar,
or even the UAE. Most of this lot has fallen prey to the aggressive marketing
around this time.
Corporates take the Christmas seriously. This
is seen in the increased number of ‘sales’ campaigns and tinsel-themsed advertisements
splashed at the eyes of consumers in the media.
All this comes at a cost.
January is known to be the longest and as a
result the most dreaded month. That schools open for a new term, and bills are
waiting in line justifies the adage that there are 45 days in this month. And
there is every indication that this is not going to change, at least in this
year’s Christmas.
On Thursday, everyone will certainly play to
the age-old Christmas script. In that case, it’ll be apparent that the question
of whether the world understands the essence of Christmas remains unresolved.
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