Almost Christmas

It is almost Christmas,

The skies are getting cold.

Stockings are filled

Sweet stories are told.

It is nearly Christmas

With decorations and lights.

Hot chocolate and mulled wine,

Calm, cosy nights.

It is close to Christmas

As we spread Christmas cheer.

We watch festive movies

Sometimes shedding a tear.

Right before Christmas

As the excitement grows.

We put out the mince pies

And pray for some snow.

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Thank you for taking the time to read my little Christmas poem. Have a Merry Christmas! For another of my poems, have a read of Finally Cooler.

Is Christmas Too Commercial?

Sometimes I wonder why Christmas is still so very popular. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love the festive vibe. It is great finding an excuse to get together with friends and family and share a laugh (or a drink).

But fewer people are religious these days.

In the UK Census of 2021, only 46 percent of citizens said they were Christian, and many of these were loosely so (not actually actively doing anything about it). 37 percent said they belonged to no religion at all.

Yet Christmas stays significant and hugely popular.

I just hope it is for the right reasons.

Are We Obsessed With Presents?

For me, Christmas is a tradition. A wonderful winter time tradition. Sadly the wintry aspect has fizzled away, as we rarely get snow in England these days and certainly not during the Christmas break.

But when I speak to my students, Christmas is mainly about presents; Being given nice presents.

When I dig down and ask about why they celebrate Christmas, present receiving is the main reason. This is fair enough for children but many adults are the same.

I recently asked five different friends why they celebrate Christmas and they all said it is about the present giving. They were busy fulfilling shopping lists and worrying about getting those particular gifts that were expensive and difficult to get hold of.

To add to this, many of the people I spoke to who said they were Christian knew very little about Christianity.

One of the reasons several people gave was that they were Christened when they were a baby.

They had never been to a church since, other than for weddings and funerals.

Anyway, you must get what I am saying by now.

Christmas is about consumerism first and foremost. That is the reality of modern Britain.

I am not saying there is anything wrong with that but I just wish I could rekindle the festive spirit and get people to care more about being charitable and sharing experiences with people at Christmas time.

And Finally

At Christmas time retail industries make their most profit. They often hike up prices to make the most of the consumerism associated with Christmas.

Whether this is a good or bad thing, you can be the judge. It certainly seems to have moved away from community spirit and celebrating Jesus’ birth and more towards, ‘How big will my present be?’

What are your thoughts on this matter?

Has Christmas become mainly about buying presents and greedy recipients?

For a recent article of mine, check out Wonka – A movie review. Also consider following my blog for similar future content.

Biographies Can Be Eye-Opening

As an avid reader, I love nothing more than getting sucked into a good book. Although I often write about a range of fiction genres, I hardly mention another favourite of mine – biographies.

Non-fiction books are just as popular these days and I especially love books written by famous people about their own lives.

It can be a real eye-opener to get inside a celebrity’s head and learn about the way that they became who they ended up being.

Biographies I Have Loved

Going back to when I was young, I remember enjoying the quirky but honest recollections of Roald Dahl. He wrote ‘BOY – Tales of Childhood’ and then ‘Going Solo’ all about being a young adult.

Similarly, I loved finding out about Julie Andrews and how she became an actress. She had quite a challenging upbringing with a horrible step dad. Her book ‘Home’ was followed by ‘Homework’ which took the reader through the Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music period, when she had moved to America.

Having read about various people, I am still enjoying the funny recollections of Miriam Margoyles. Called, ‘This Much Is True,’ this autobiography is full of anecdotes about childhood in Oxford and fascinating facts about historical figures she came across.

Final Thoughts

I love getting to know what celebrities have experienced. It somehow makes them feel more real and gives interesting insights into their journeys to fame.

On my shelf is a biography about Demi Moore which I am really looking forward to. Look out for ‘Inside Out’ and I will post a review when I get into it.

How many biographies have you read?

Which is your favourite famous person’s biography?

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. For more book suggestions, have a look at my recent Reading Right Now article. Please also consider following my blog for more book, TV and film reviews as well as climate change thoughts.