It's always seemed mad to me that we have an enforced holiday in the middle of winter. Why not have it in the middle of summer anyway Covid or no covid? The December festivities were just tacked on to a pagan festival. Nobody knows when Jesus's birthday was. It could well have been midsummer day.
Christmas is in December because it’s the middle of winter. November, December and January are dark and gloomy and cold. Christmas brings light and warmth and a reason to eat good food and drink with friends and family. To buy gifts for those we love. To sing songs. To decorate our homes.
We need Christmas to cheer us through the dark days of winter.
I actually prefer the idea of Christmas being a Winter festival to brighten the dark days. It takes religion out of the equation and makes it a common holiday, something I can relate too and would enjoy. But... unfortunately we have a deadly virus this year so things can’t be the same, shouldn’t be the same, and, if we are being sensible, won’t be the same.
I think the governments have made a grave error of judgement, IMO.
It's a very difficult situation. I do think that some people would have ignored the lockdown anyway whatever the government said. I will be seeing my children and their families over Christmas. Firstborn, Secondborn and Hubby are all teachers and so have been risking their health throughout the lockdown. I suppose I have been risking my health too as if I didn't provide childcare Secondborn would not have been able to work and unfortunately teachers haven't been able to choose whether or not they work. We wont be seeing anyone else so for us it will be business as usual. My 98 year old mom on the other hand was in isolation for months. She did get Covid, had no significant symptoms and recovered. However the constant isolation and lack of contact with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren took its toll and she basically gave up on life, stopped eating and died alone. I will never get over not being there for her at the end. I'm not making any judgement on whether the government is right or wrong to let families get together over the Christmas period this is just my experience of lockdown.
We can point to individual tragedies, but the decisions made by government have to be made on more of a population basis, and in terms of the ability of the NHS to operate during this period. If we got to the stage of the field hospitals actually filling up with critically ill / dying patients, the issues of mental health and loneliness, as real as they are, would take a back seat in people's minds.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
@Yviestevie my heart goes out to you. I lost my mom last December and I will be forever grateful that she passed away pre Covid-19 as her mental health was so very poor and she would not have coped with no visitors to the home she was in. It’s a disgrace that the plight of those in nursing homes has not been addressed sooner. The stories are heartbreaking.
What happened to mass testing?I got a letter asking me from the nhs if I would participate in a survey so they sent me a test in the post.what a faff!had to book a courier.did test on Wednesday.got results Sunday.letter today.negative as I knew it would be.hubby had one he requested.put it in the post.results in 24 hours.why a courier?how much did that cost? Why the delay? Me and hubby on our own at Xmas with new pup.ill have enough to do!
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Why not have it in the middle of summer anyway Covid or no covid?
The December festivities were just tacked on to a pagan festival. Nobody knows when Jesus's birthday was. It could well have been midsummer day.
I think the governments have made a grave error of judgement, IMO.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”