Why Christmas? [antikvár]

Why celebrate Christmas? There is something almost magical about Christmas: children dream of Father Christmas and his fantasy sleigh, we picture Christmas trees, snowy scenes, filled-up stockings, piles of présents and smiling families around the fire. The reality is often not as perfect as we imagine. Some people go over the top at Christmas. The overcrowding on the streets and in the shops can lead to so-called 'Santa-Claustrophobia'. Over-indulging takes its toll on family life. One nine year-old boy wrote, '1 know Christmas should be a religious time, but to me Christmas is a time for the necessities of life such as food, présents and booze.' Another boy wrote, 'After breakfast we go into the sitting-room. Dad comes in drunk with Mum's tights and an Indian hat on!' His teacher wrote in the margin, 'Good old Dad!' For some, there is a .«j danger of over-spending -buying présents that others do not need with money they have not got. One little girl wrote to her granny, 'Thank you very much for the nice gloves you sent me for Christmas. They