The visual feast of Christmas carollers stood under a lamplight, warming their hands on an open fire. What better way is there of celebrating Christmas than hearing such splendid songs and maybe singing along with our friends. What a lovely, traditional way of bridging the centuries, connecting us to our forefathers, who sang the same songs all those Christmases ago.
The sense of shared majesty that spans centuries should feel as easy and comfortable for our newest generation as Christmas itself.
But, does it, or are we too late to protect our intellectual heritage?
For years we’ve been forced into a state of political correctness that has, quite simply, slowly eroded and stifled our sense of national pride. Our leaders, by trying to make us sympathetically turn down the volume of our patriotism, have robbed us of much of our shared cultural inheritance. And, if ever there was a time we needed a sense of belonging and pride in our nation’s abilities, the hour is upon us.
Why do we feel the need to continually re-position and reinvent? What’s wrong with tradition?
The majority of us have tried hard, in our communities, to show interest in other cultures, to learn about other customs and, above all, to be inclusive. Why then, in our schools, are we being urged to abandon the traditional nativity in favour of a new wave of songs and a very modern take on what should be embraced as Traditional Christmas culture.
For one period of the year, wouldn’t it be nice if we were allowed to celebrate in the age-old way that has dictated the evolution of a part of our national culture. Once a year we should demand a good old sing along. We should insist upon performing a rousing, harmonious shared experience, full of pomp and history, with our culturally aligned fellow man. Minus any feelings of guilt!
In an attempt to keep that Dickensian spirit alive, I call upon you as the guardian of the ghosts of Christmases past, but much more importantly, the protector of Christmases yet to come, to boldly sing out loud and strong and not be silenced!
I urge you to do so with absolutely no hint of apology in an unashamed desire to celebrate, what is after all, our birthright.
God bless us, everyone!