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CHRISTMAS HAS LOST ITS MEANINING - PUBLIC

By KHAYA SIMELANE | 2024-12-23

There is a general feeling that Christmas has lost both its religious and traditional values as shared by the public.

To many, Christmas no longer serves to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ as it prominently used to in the past, with focus having shifted to secular aspects such as the buying of material items, gifts-giving, parties filled with alcoholic drinks and commercial aspects for profit making.

Further, feelings gathered from random interviews showed that its traditional aspect was slowly fading though still better observed than its religious aspect.

Families still do come together to share meals and exchange gifts though with conspicious deviation from sharing meals with strangers, the needy and the tradition of visiting other households to share in the joyous spirit of Christmas.

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families now rarely gather as extended units as there was more emphasis on nuclear family gathering because the extended family unit was now engaged in the fierce war of competing against each other.

For example, Ayandza Motsa noted that Christmas used to be a day for attending church services to give thanks and praise to God for the gift of Jesus Christ, however that was no longer the case as Christmas carols, praise and worship songs have gone silent within churches on such a day.

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Babe Dlamini opined that Christmas was no longer about bringing families together and sharing meals with the needy, instead has become a day for alcohol drinking and the hosting of parties that have nothing to do with the appreciation of the gift of Christ.

Nomvula Xaba said she missed the days when they would wake up to feel the smell of rice and fried chicken which was what defined yesteryears celebration of Christmas.

Xaba stated that so many changes have occurred with great focus on self-indulgence thus dimishing both the religious and traditional values of Christmas.

League of Churches Archbishop Chairman, Samson Hlatjwako, concurs that Christmas has lost its value and was no longer about the birth of Jesus Christ.

Hlatjwako stated that Christmas has now become a day of drinking alcohol, planning to kill other people out of vengeance and engaging in improper behaviour.

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“In the past this day was for glorifying God for the gift of His only son Jesus Christ that He gave to the world to redeem mankind from his sinful nature.

In the past, people would go to church to thank God, exchange gifts and share meals.
However, this is no longer the case as people organise drinking parties and scheme to harm or kill each other on this day,” said the Archbishop.

Hlatjwako further stated that Boxing Day ought to be a day of exchanging gifts in the literal sense in remembrance of the greatest gift that was Jesus.

He lamented that even in churches, the value of christmas has diminished as there were nolonger meals prepared for the underpriviledged or the sharing of gifts like clothes and food parcels to those in need.

The archbishop reminisced how they used to move from household to household, in the spirit of sharing meals and drinks.

“There is a need for the three church bodies (League of Churches, Conference of Churches and Council of Churches) to come together and find a way of restoring the value of Christmas.” Hlatjwako then appealed to the nation, especially the youth to guard themselves against improper behaviour, especially the drinking of alcoholic drinks this Christmas.

He strongly warned young girls to refrain from such habits as they end up being taken advantage of when drunk and get sexually violated.

Bishop Samuel Dlamini, who is the Chairman of Conflict Commission within the Conference of Churches also agreed that Christmas has lost its value.

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Dlamini stated that the greatest tragedy that ever happened to Christmas was its hijacking by businesspeople/ entities which led to the festive being entirely commercialised.

“In ancient times, people would sing carols on the street to celebrate this day.
Of late, churches have gone mute, even those that put some efforts usually host services days before the actual day. On the very important day, churches become closed,” said Dlamini.

He urged the nation to copy what was done by the angels in the Bible when the news of the birth of Jesus broke out.

According to Dlamini, the angels celebrated in song and worship when the news was shared.

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