It is 2022 When does the Christmas Spirit Leave??

By Angela Seneviratne

Happy New Year! Suba Nawa Wasarak Wewa!  Puttantu Valttulkkal ! May all beings be happy and at peace with oneself and one another.

It was indeed a miraculous season and the twelve days of Christmas were anticipated, received with love and celebrated, in some way or another. Somehow gifts were managed to be delivered to children, mostly among the haves of the middle and upper slots of society, while the have nots struggled to have a single meal in a day.
The city was lit up and the fireworks were sparked off into little bursts, announcing the advent of the most joyous season in the year. People did venture out and dare to visit public places despite the monotonous drone of constant warnings by various authorities not to do so. Hence a defiant Christmas!!

Soon the year that was such a heavy burden to the world ended, and the new figure 2022 is now on everyone’s lips. But… has the Spirit left? Is it leaving at all?

I gingerly stepped into a Supermarket that has a toy section one day and as I padded down the aisles, these colourful soft toys with huge melting eyes stalled me in my tracks and I was overcome with the Christmas Spirit!!  There I was then, trying to find a small toy each of some kind for my little children in my village. I was first thinking of buying some little outfits but discovered that nowadays kids don’t want clothes for Christmas, they want toys.
I was having fun checking out all the toys. I had already gone through this once at the neighborhood toy store and couldn’t find a thing that really grabbed my attention. But I rounded a corner and there they were, a whole shelf of oversized stuffed dolls, dolls that didn’t talk, cry, wet or do anything except be a doll.

Tah Dahhh the Christmas Spirit hit!

I fell in love with them! I grabbed one up and headed for the front of the store to check out. That’s what I intended to do, but then I saw that child-size set of pink kitchen range! It would be perfect for a little girl to have hours of fun stirring pots I thought.

Tah dahh the Christmas Spirit again!

Before I made it  to the register, I remembered that I had intended to get blocks at the discount toy store but couldn’t find any. How could they not have blocks? Every child needs simple blocks. I found Lego’s, Logs, Tinker Toys, all the other building stuff, but where are the blocks? Then I found them. Only two boxes left. Better get them before they are sold out.

Tah dahh, Christmas Spirit! 

I didn’t get a shopping basket when I came in because I was only buying one or two small toys. The blocks were so heavy that I could barely carry them. I had to get help to get  all the stuff to the cash register. Okay, I am now telling myself I’m overdoing it.

Three toys aren’t really that many. But the thing is there are six of these kids and they all then deserve three gifts each or they will have very bad opinions of Santa.  Therefore…Tah dahhh,, the Christmas Spirit whizzes up and down the aisles and groans as the cart is heaved to the check out.

On getting home, wrapping these, labelling them and stacking them I discover two names have been missed out.  Back I rush with my heart a pitter patter. Would there be any suitable toys left?  Sigh of relief… I have them securely in the crook of my arm heading for the wrapping.

Oh, heck, I enjoy giving gifts to the kids more than they enjoy receiving them. I might as well admit it. It being the New Year the giving has not stopped. As these kids come in instalments. Such fun but I’m tired now. 

Tah dahh Christmas spirit! Happy New Year and all that, When do you leave??