Perfect Neighbours - Standing at Handshaking Distance

Christmas and New Year look like perfect neighbours. They stand at a hand-shaking distance from each other. Taking strides from their respective destinations, they march hand in hand like two banks of a river. Christmas brings sweet and warm memories and suggests that New Year is round the corner.

Christmas falls on 25th December every year. It is celebrated as a mark of respect and honour to Lord Christ. Christ is the eternal God and the birth of Christ is a symbol of hope. Christmas delivers a message of brotherhood of mankind to people of all castes, colours and creeds of the entire world. It preaches love and unity among humanity. Christmas also comes with a message to forgive and forget. In the present day world, there is a great need to imbibe the spirit and message of Christmas in our real lives. Only then peace may prevail on this planet.

Christmas brings sweet and warm memories and suggests that New Year is round the corner

Precisely, seven days after Christmas, New Year is celebrated with great pomp and show. Every 1st January heralds the beginning of a new chapter of joy and hope for mankind. People have a conviction that the rising sun of the maiden morning of New Year may spread light into their lives as well. 

We should be pragmatic and practical and take only those pledges on this day which we can easily fulfil. There is an imperative need to change the mode of celebration of New Year. The big, gala day may begin by praying to God, by taking the blessings of the elders by touching their feet, by feeding the poor and the hungry. Even woollen clothes may be offered to the poor and the needy to save them from the shivering cold of the winter. The first day of the year should begin with service to humanity. Nobody minds if there is some fun and entertainment within the limits of decency. 

The first day of the year should begin with service to humanity

So, let’s enhance the decorum and dignity of perfect neighbours – Christmas and New Year, by understanding their real, true message and its proper usage and implementation in our daily lives.