Numb to the Christmas Spirit

In a random conversation with a colleague, she suddenly admitted that she doesn’t feel the Christmas spirit. I was shocked. I was feeling the same way too. The atmosphere isn’t as cheery as it’s supposed to be, and Christmas parties have been reduced to a minimum. The raffle prizes are not even what they used to be. Some say this is a sign of inflation and a reflection of what the current times have done to the economic sector.

Filipinos are known to celebrate the longest-running Christmas season. While commercial establishments have done their part to make us feel like Christmas Day is approaching, it simply doesn’t count. No amount of sales, deals, or Christmas carols will make us believe that we are truly in the season. I feel like this numbness can be attributed to the many reasons why we cannot be as extravagant this year.

For instance, senseless killings continue to rage on. Just this week, two families fell victim to gun violence. In Carcar City, a mother and a daughter were killed, and on Camotes Island, a couple and a teenager met the same fate. They didn’t deserve to die at the hands of criminals. Their families are now grieving instead of celebrating Christmas. Over in our neighboring province, Negros Oriental, many families are forced to live in evacuation centers because of Mt. Kanlaon’s eruption. They are cramped inside school classrooms, uncertain of what might happen to them in the coming days. The city has imposed restrictions on their movements and social gatherings, further dampening their ability to celebrate.

On a larger scale, the power of the peso has also diminished. The ?500 that used to buy a lot of goods can barely complete a decent meal for a family of four. The typical noche buena might also be downsized. Christmas parties, while still happening, feel more like obligatory events rather than joyful celebrations. Everyone seems to be in a rush, moving from one place to another, ensuring their presence is noted. The essence of bonding and spending time with one another is slowly fading. We’re fooling ourselves into thinking that a year-end party is also a celebration of Christmas when it’s not.

It feels like we’re living in a vacuum where time flies by so fast that we barely have time to prepare for the year ahead. Time seems to be moving faster than our thoughts, and much of it is wasted on meaningless activities. That said, we now see time as a precious luxury that no one has an unlimited supply of.

Still, I’d like to believe that we can turn this uncanny feeling around and start getting into the groove of Christmas. If we can just focus our thoughts on its true meaning and share that genuine feeling with others, it would be a transformative experience. It’s about rekindling the joy, love, and generosity that define this season. If we can do that, I bet it would truly feel like Christmas again.