Perhaps a bit of frustration on my part, however as I just complete the delivery of my newspapers, and head to my other job of selling unneeded goods to the masses!
One thing has occurred to me since my return to my homeland of Wales.
It's the different ways we think about Christmas in Wales and the US. Just an aside, the reason why I chose to use the word "Xmas", comes from C S Lewis's essay "Xmas and Christmas" written Shortly before his death.
It illustrated brilliantly the difference (interestly as I write this in the shelter of Llantwit Major station a Robin a symbol of Christmas hops round my feet) between Christmas of the birth of Jesus and God becoming human in terrible poverty, and the Xmas of getting and commercialism.
In Denver (where I lived for 7 happy years) the lead up to Christmas (Advent in calendar of the Western Church) began with the "Parade of Lights" a splendid occasion that was well worth getting cold for.
Which began with a ceremony in front if the Denver City Hall
Now compare this with the Winter Wonderland in front of Cardiff City Hall
What a difference! Here in Colorado which has strict seperation of church and state the Christmas message is right at the heart of the celebration despite the commercialism and it was vibrant, different to Cardiff where ou have surly shoppers totally oblivious to the Christmass message, and those who think that Muslims are offended by it. Should get real, they are just as big on. Xmas as the secular crowd.
The is winter wonderland is nothing to do with the real message of Christmas, which is giving and celebrating Jesus who cared for those who had nothing, the homeless and the marginalised.
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