SO this is Christmas. By now, it is impossible for anyone to steer completely clear of the Christmas festivities that have engulfed the country. This year, more than ever, I’ve reflected upon what Christmas means to me and how I’ve always celebrated it.

I can vividly remember that the day school closed for the Christmas holidays, that very Friday night I would begin my Christmas movie marathon. The hardest decision back then was, “Which movie should I start with- Home Alone or The Grinch who stole Christmas?”

Stocking up with the goodies for Christmas was something I’d look forward to all month. I mean, at what other time of the year could you buy endless amounts of Danish Butter cookies, boxes of chocolates (I loved Garato) and all the walnuts imaginable- without feeling guilty?

The Christmas cleanup was something I did not look forward to though. Putting up the decorations, on the other hand, I didn’t mind.

As it drew nearer to Christmas Day, it was a tradition for me to ‘break’ the holiday in the streets of Georgetown-you know, the extreme late night shopping on Christmas Eve? Then on Christmas Day I’d wake up to Pepperpot and plait bread, which was later joined by some kind of fancy rice, with some kind of fancy chicken and other fancy sides. I was never overly fond of black cake, but a mean rainbow cake I didn’t mind.

And these are all things that make up that uniquely traditional Guyanese Christmas. But I see things differently now. There is so much hype and buildup for a single day that goes by so quickly. After those 24 hours, it’s mostly back to basics again-unless of course Boxing Day is your Christmas 2.0 or if you’ve got lots of planning for the New Year.

This Christmas season, I asked persons around my age about how they intended on spending the holiday. I was actually very surprised that all but one of the persons I spoke to were going to be very traditional in their Christmas celebrations. Waking up to open presents, going to church, spending part of their day cooking the Christmas specials and enjoying the rest of the day with their family and friends were all recurring answers. At least for them, their traditions have been maintained.

What I have managed to retain is that magic that merry season has always had; that magic that makes you want to do something good or noble or helpful.

As much as I am scared of needles, I would consider giving blood. I wouldn’t mind visiting children or some elderly folk and just spending time with them. And while I’m going to shop for new clothes to wear in the New Year (because that’s apparently a thing that people do), I’d much rather give clothes to persons who have more need for them.

For me though, many of those things that attracted me in my younger days just aren’t as attractive anymore. What’s the use of all the confectionery? And why all the shopping ? I don’t have the answers to these questions as yet. But what I do know, however, is that this magical spirit I feel is the real reason for the season.

It’s nice to get nice things for ourselves and our homes, but getting things to people who need it? What could really compare to that feeling?

And this is not me lamenting about the so-called commercialisation of the holiday. I understand that people choose to treat themselves or do a little extra during this time and rightly so because you’ve worked all year. It’s just for me personally, I’d much rather direct my efforts to things that mean more to me or that would make me content.

I doubt I can write off this feeling as just ‘part of growing up’ because I still have the mind of a five-year-old sometimes, but I’d like to believe that my dissonance with the festivities is owed to me believing that some things are more important than others.

So this Christmas, I’m going to be doing things that make me happy and not doing things just for the sake of doing them or maintaining my traditions. And I’d imagine that should be something for all of us- doing whatever makes us happy.