Why Can’t Every Day Be Christmas?

Most of us love the Christmas season: the greeting cards, meals and parties, shopping, gifts to loved ones, donations to charities, carols, and decorations in streets and homes. The period is often treated as a time to show love to those close to us and, for some, to attend to people in need. It is a happy period, and this was no exception for members of the Black African community in the UK.

If the idea of Christmas is so widely accepted and celebrated, imagine how our communities might feel if every day carried some of that same generosity. More lives could be touched and more people could experience practical care. Gifts are quickly used and the feeling of seasonal goodwill gradually fades, meaning people return to their pre-Christmas circumstances sooner or later.

For many people, those circumstances may include lower incomes, fewer family holidays, less support for children’s education, smaller networks of friends and family, and fewer opportunities to progress. Why should efforts to bring joy and support stop with one season?

Do not wait until the next Christmas or major celebration to act on those themes. Move through everyday life deliberately thinking about how you might help someone become happier, healthier, more confident, or better supported. Tell your story. Give counsel. Share an ambition. Be a mentor, teach a skill, or make a valuable introduction. The challenge is simple: give something of yourself, and make the spirit of Christmas part of ordinary community life.