Often when I ask students about the meaning of Easter, they get sidetracked with the commercial bits. Instead of Jesus and resurrection, they enthuse about chocolate eggs, hot cross buns and Easter bunnies.
Thank you for taking the time to read my silly Easter poem. Please consider checking out another recent poem about Friday.
PS – And yes I used the same rhyme twice, for effect.
When Michelle decided to write the latest lead post from the Climate Change Collective about the difference between Weather and Climate, I was especially intrigued.
As a Geography student I changed my degree after one year to a BSc(Hons) instead of a BA(Hons) in order that I could concentrate more on physical geography. A big part of this was the study of climate, and in particular, climate change.
A lot of people mix up the two things. Often people assume a few hot or cold days mean a change in climate but generally climate is about averages. Average rainfall, temperature and windspeed. Weather is more a description of what is happening right now in our blustery skies.
Lately, a short cold burst has led to people quickly condemning the idea of climate change. This is shortsighted and doesn’t make much sense.
Over half a century, world average temperatures have increased significantly. Occasional freak weather conditions do nothing to undo this fact.
Check out Michelle’s wonderful article to find out more about this subject. I hope that you can see how important it is to be able to distinguish between Weather and Climate.
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.
