The year has sped by and already you are holding the December newsletter, no plain cover this month but a colour edition, something different like so many things this month. A lot of things are done at this time of year that only happen this month and they come from a variety of sources. The customs of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany have a mixture of origins, some Christian and some from previous pagan winter festivals but all get rather mixed up in a modern Christmas season.
Some very popular customs are not necessarily that ancient. One such custom is the sending of Christmas cards. This began in 1834 four years after the Penny Post began, when Henry Cole had the idea and with the help of his friend John Horsely produced 1000 cards and they were sold for one shilling each (5p could buy a lot then). The idea caught on and by 1880 people were being warned to post early.
You may have heard that this year there has been discussion about Christmas cards. A newspaper article has said how these cards, “gather on the doormat, multiply in the hall and end up taking over mantelpieces, shelves and even walls. Then, after Christmas is over, their empty promises of ‘we must catch up soon’ end up in the rubbish or at best the recycling bin. So this year, why not give Christmas cards a miss?” Apparently the thought was started with words by Dr Stephen Cottrell the Bishop of Reading, whose recent book is quoted as giving the advice for, “those struggling to write scores of cards to stop sending them to those they don’t really like and put their feet up and relax”.
One of the aspects I very much enjoy about our modern Christmas is the cards. It is so good to receive greetings be it from those one sees often or those one rarely sees. It is good also to receive news in those letters that some include. Some have pictures so one sees how children have grown and some have even said they enjoy the one we send. The cards mean one can keep in touch with lots of people far away and that is surely a good thing to do and how colourful they look!
Some cards have express wishes for peace and prosperity and they have both been very elusive in 2008 for many people. We can and should however continue to pray for and strive in our actions for a greater peace and a truer sharing of prosperity in the New Year. The baby born at Bethlehem came into a world of much conflict and poverty. His coming was good news, a reason for joy in the midst of this troubled world. Jesus remains good news and a reason for joy and why not pass on that with a card.
Wishing you joy this Christmas season,
Robert
