In the tumult of Christmas, when families, friends and neighbours - and the great commercial world - are clamouring for attention, adults should listen for the still, small voice of childhood. The real wonders of Christmas, with the delights and expectations it engenders, are best recaptured through the eyes of a child. Children are the gateway to the magic of Santa Claus, with presents piled high on his reindeer-drawn sleigh, and parents are admitted as necessary interlopers. But the festive spirit embraces a wider and deeper audience. It binds age groups and communities; it is a time of giving and receiving, of glad remembering and unhappy forgetting. And, at the heart of the festival, urban and rural communities unite in the celebration of the birth of Christ.
At this stage, a White Christmas seems unlikely. The weather forecast is for mild, windy and changeable conditions. A perfect setting in which to reforge and strengthen the ties of family and friends. Emigrants are flooding home from abroad, many citybound workers are preparing to leave for rural parts and all are determined to have a good time. Limiting the intake of food and alcohol will help in that regard. Establishing, or renewing, close personal contacts rarely occurs when one is slumped in a post-Christmas dinner daze before the television. Moving outdoors and taking reasonable amounts of exercise is the key.
Most adults carry warm, vivid memories of childhood walks with parents, and of the protection provided by a reassuring presence. This is the cement which binds relationships across time and space. And this is the time to celebrate old ties and to create new ones. Make time to be with ageing parents and relations and to introduce children to the delights of the open air. The weather is mild and the parks, canal banks, forestry trails and country roads are quiet. Although showers may threaten, they are nothing a raincoat cannot cope with. And there are varying levels of activity for everyone.
A lake-shore drive or a visit to the sea may open up happy memories and provide a vibrant point of contact for some. A quiet walk can enthrall. The wonder of bird and animal life; of trees and shrubs and of the countryside in its winter coat, feed into a larger whole. There is a welcome, familiar presence; the chance touching of hands and the crystal-clear glory of a winter sky. The countryside is, in itself, a therapeutic presence that sloughs off the detritus of modern living. The slow pace of a canalside stroll; a breezy walk on a deserted beach or a more energetic mountain hike, can all become part of the holiday agenda. We live in a wonderfully diverse countryside. Go out and enjoy it. And bring a friend. Happy Christmas.