27 Dec. 2001 - 2 Jan. 2002
Issue No.566
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 27 Dec. 2001 - 2 Jan. 2002 Issue No.566 |
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Limelight
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells!
"It's the most wonderful time of the year", and magically it always seems to be. As sad and tragic a year as we have had, a silent truce descends at Christmas and a warm glow of serenity prevails for a brief moment in time. The ringing sound of silver bells brings joy and comfort to the heart within, and a sense of hope and peace descends on all mankind. Christmas may have started as a Christian holiday, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ but, its joyous spirit extends to the four corners of the globe, making it everyone's holiday. While most Christians celebrate on 25 December, other dates are also observed for this holy day. The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates 7 January; children in several European countries receive their holiday gifts on 6 December, the eve of Epiphany; Afro-Americans celebrate Kwanzaa from 26 December to 1st January.
No one knows the exact date of Christ's birth. The idea to celebrate 25 December was first suggested early in the 4th century. The first mention of the celebration occurred in 336 AD in an early Roman calendar, indicating 25 December as the day of observance. The Roman Christian Church wished to eclipse the festivities of pagan religions that threatened Christianity's very existence. Romans held year-end celebrations to honour Saturn, their harvest god, and Mithras the god of light. Special foods, decorations, merry-making and gift-giving were part of their celebrations. Homes were decorated with greenery and voices were lifted in joyous songs. For two centuries after Christ's birth, no one knew and no one cared, exactly when Christ was born. Birthdays were unimportant - death days counted. The church even considered it sinful then to contemplate observing Christ's birthday. Several liberal theologians conducted their own research, trying to pinpoint the exact date of his birth. The dates they came up with were 1st January, 6th January, 25 March and 20 May. The church fathers debated their options and were finally compelled to settle for 25 December because of the popularity of the pagan celebrations. The church needed a date to compete with Mithriasm and Saturnalia. Today, scientists acknowledge the power of group celebrations - the unification of ranks and the solidification of collective identity.
Today's Christmas traditions mimic their pagan roots. The mistletoe originated with the ancient Druids of Britain, while the Christmas tree started in Germany around 700 AD. The poinsettia plant brought over by the first US Ambassador to Mexico, Dr Joel Robert Poinsett in 1828, was renamed in his honour. Christmas cards, a relatively recent phenomenon, have become universal favourites. In the US alone, over 2 billion cards are sent at Christmas time. The jingling of the bells started in Norway on Christmas Eve and quickly spread throughout Europe and the rest of the world. The sumptuous meal, also a remnant of ancient times is a relished tradition today, though we no longer roast boars and pheasants.
Santa Claus is here
Christmas is also big business. Elves, manufacturers, merchants and filmmakers toil all year to catch the Christmas tide. The gift-giving tradition started early in the 4th century with St. Nicholas of Lycia, Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor, thought to be the original Santa. His generosity was legendary and so was his love for children. He walked from door to door, with his grey long beard and his flowing long red robes, leaving gifts for the needy. Today's jolly appearance and image of warmth and compassion of Santa Claus, St. Nick, Father Christmas, or Père No‘l is based on the description in the famous poem The Night Before Christmas by theologian Dr C Clement Moore, first published in 1906. Five films have been made based on this beloved poem. Babes in Toyland and Heidi are recurring Christmas favourites. The Hollywood Christmas Cheer Factory is kept busy year after year turning out productions that have become as traditional as Christmas wassailing and caroling. Appearing on every favourite Christmas list is Miracle on 34th Street, a sensational holiday message with warm- hearted humour. There are more than three film versions of this story; the best remains the 1947 production, directed by George Seaton, with Edmund Gwenn as the authentic Kris Kringle, who has to go to court to prove to a little girl (Natalie Wood) that he is the real Santa. A wonderfully enchanting film featuring great performances mainly by Gwenn who won an Academy Award for his utterly convincing rendition of Santa. The film won two other Oscars, one for best original story by Valentine Davies, and best screenplay. One of its memorable quotes: "Faith is believing when common sense tells you not to." Gwenn's Santa costume has been auctioned at Sotheby's for $30,000 last week.
Another holiday treat is Frank Capra's Classic, It's a Wonderful Life, 1946, with James Stewart as George Bailey, who finds out what the world might have been like had he never been born. No one can resist a tear or two as they all sing "Auld Lang Syne". Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Who Stole Christmas is a favourite children's book and a beloved Christmas cartoon (1965), all told in that infectious Seussian rhyme. Ron Howard (Ransom, Apollo 13) directed a major feature last year with superstar comedian Jim Carrey as The Grinch, who hates the noise and joy of the Christmas season. Among the adult Christmas films that warm the coldest hearts, are Holiday Inn (1942), White Christmas (1954), I'll be Seeing You (1946); and a host of light hearted comedies, like The Santa Claus with Tim Allen (1994), Christmas Vacation (1989) with Chevy Chase, and Jingle All the Way (1996) with Arnold Schwazenegger.
The most popular by far, is Charles Dickens' immortal A Christmas Carol, first published in 1843. One of the most beautiful stories ever written "Carol", has been produced on film over 200 times around the world. Fifteen major film productions in the U.S. alone, and innumerable film adaptations for television have made it part of every Christmas tradition, like Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite", singing "Silent Night" at midnight mass and "roasting chestnuts on an open fire." The ghost of Christmas Past, Present and Future, show the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge what a lonely miserable life he has lead, thereby teaching him the true spirit of loving and giving. Scrooge has been portrayed by many fine actors including Albert Finney and George C. Scott. The most precious Scrooge of all is Alistair Sim's. His transformation is so effective ending the film on such a high note of mirth and good cheer. It leaves us with a lesson well learnt and a swelling sensation of optimum joy. The best element of these films is their sense of family togetherness, which gives this holiday its universal theme. Some of the films we grew up with may be the same films we'll grow old with. Those are the masterpieces that stand the test of time and generations.
From ancient times, new year's eve has been the nosiest of nights as early European farmers drove the evil spirits with great wailing of horns and beating of drums. As the tradition of Yuletide viewing increases in popularity, our list will likely grow from year to year. And as the season bells:
Ring out the old, ring in the new
Ring out the false, ring in the true
We pray they ring in lasting peace to a troubled earth, and like Tiny Tim in Dickens' A Christmas Carol we also cry to one and all: "God bless us, everyone!"
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