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Beatrice Tonhodzayi-Ngondo Make A Difference
This time of the year is both hectic and exciting. There is a buzz in the air that just makes you want to skip about and be merry. The holidays are upon us. I do not know about you, but in my home the Christmas tree has already been put up. The children did not wait for permission.
They just rummaged about and found the tree where it always stays and they put it together alone, without anyone’s help.
Of course the result was not as impressive as it would have been with some adult assistance. But nevertheless, the ambiance and the mood is already in my home, thanks to their efforts and no one can take it away.
Passing by the tree every day, I find myself walking with a spring.
I find myself humming, “Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat. Please put a penny in the old man’s hat. If you haven’t got a penny, a happy’ney will do, a happy’ney will do.”
The season does that to you. No matter how tight things may be, it brings these flashing moments of joy and nostalgia.
When you see the wish list that the children always put by the Christmas tree with dozens upon dozens of what they would like Santa Claus to drop off for them, you cannot help but think back to what it used to be like.
Back then when we had no trees in the house but Christmas was truly Christmas.
Don’t we all have memories of waking up early to wear the new dress and suits, which always only came during that period?
Filled with excitement we would walk around the streets of Highfields (for me that is) showing off our clothes to others who would also be determined to do the same. After that, we would go back to our homes where the radios would be set up on the veranda or anywhere outside, blaring out sounds from the likes of Lucky Dube, Peter Tosh, Bob Marley, UB40 (in my case it was reggae heavy because there were many brothers), and Thomas Mapfumo, among others.
On this day you could walk into any yard and get a drink or a snack. It was Christmas and it was about sharing. You would have people visiting from kumusha or you yourselves would be the ones celebrating the holiday kumusha.
While I have never been able to recapture the magic of old around Christmastime in my adult years, it is in the children that the magic of Christmas still shines through.
As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, the children always have a special time around this period.
This is why parents and guardians will indulge them with the trees, gifts, food and drinks.
Every parent just wants to give the children a good Christmas, and fault them we cannot.
It is for this reason that it is somewhat disheartening to note that the festive season seems to be taking a knock in recent years.
Yes times are tough and there is not enough money to spread around but there are things that can be done to bring about good cheer.
I was talking to a friend the other day about how Zimbabwean businesses are just plain lazy and totally lacking in innovation.
On a Saturday most shops had closed by 3pm while on Sunday they were not even open.
In this period, back in the day, this is when sales were made and if it meant opening till late to accommodate holiday shoppers, that is what shops did.
As a result, they made money and people had more time to do their shopping. Back in the day, Christmas was when you would have specials and discounts.
In neighbouring South Africa and beyond, that is what happens.
You get sales and promotions. You do your shopping accompanied by “Jingle bells, jingle all the way”. The mood is festive and celebratory.
After a tough year, let us see businesses bring back the cheer by being competitive not by ripping people off.
We will not buy for we are saving for January; the really important month. In the end they will make losses and send workers home.
Businesses do your homework. During Christmas there must be specials. Instead of specials you are giving people hikes disguised as good deals. Zimbabweans are not stupid.
Going through the Debenhams UK website for treats that family and friends in that country can hook me up with, I found that they even have weekend specials.
After a tough year people can do with the cheer.
Even the atmosphere should be filled with cheer and good spirit.
That is what the season is all about.
Yes, there are not many who will splash around, with most of us having resolved to pay school fees now before the festivities (no matter how small) but when you go out of your way, you will bring sales and good cheer all round. Here is to a safe festive season, filled with cheer and sharing. Therein lies the difference!
Online Reporter