The Mayor of Ards, Councillor Philip Smyth, has issued his Christmas message as we are now only ten days away from Christmas day.
Every year it seems that the Christmas decorations and shop displays start earlier and earlier but Christmas still creeps up on us with last minute preparations taking place right through to Christmas Eve.
As I write this, the ‘big day’ is almost upon us and it is my privilege and pleasure as the last Mayor of Ards to wish everyone a very happy Christmas.
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Ards Mayor Philip Smyth with Councillors Angus Carson and Joe Boyle with Strangford MLA Kieran McCarthy on the Carol Ship on Strangford Lough last weekend.[/caption]
I have a real sense of the festive season as I have been out and about attending different Christmas events across the Borough, from Christmas light switch ons to carol services to festive fayres.
These wonderful occasions have definitely put me in the mood to celebrate. One of the things that has most inspired me is the community spirit inherent in these locally organised events that is such a central part of the season of ‘Peace on earth and good will to all men’.
As I was reflecting on Christmas before I began to write this message, I was reminded of a festive film that my children often enjoyed watching (as I must admit did I!), ‘The Grinch Who Stole Christmas’. Based on the children’s picture book by Dr Seuss’, the film tells the story of how the Grinch, intent on stealing Christmas, instead helps his community to remember the true meaning of the season.
The central message of the adaptation is perhaps summed up by the well-known and oft cited quote:
“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”
It can seem twee, and far too often ‘trotted out’, to urge people to remember the true meaning of Christmas. Perhaps even more so, for those of us who are members of a faith community. Yet, it is my experience, and I hope it can be yours too this year no matter what your beliefs, that when you take a moment to reflect on the Christmas message of peace, love, joy and hope and to incorporate these elements into your celebrations, it really does make it special.
Whether it is by spending time with loved ones, donating to charity and helping those in need, or simply taking time to pause during the busyness of the celebrations to take stock of all that you have to be thankful for.
While the spirit of Christmas definitely ‘doesn’t come from a store’ I would ask you to remember our local traders this Christmas, many of whom depend on seasonal income, and consider shopping locally. This is also a great way that we as a community can support others!
Christmas, however, is not a happy time for everyone, but can be a difficult and lonely for many people in our community. Many families in Ards are struggling financially, and so Christmas is more of a burden than a joy, and others find themselves alone, or missing loved ones who are no longer here.
As a community, we can also encapsulate the true spirit of Christmas by taking time to show kindness to those for whom Christmas can be a difficult time of year. Perhaps by taking time to visit an elderly neighbour, or invite someone for dinner that would otherwise be alone.
So in that spirit, I wish you all a happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.
(Philip Smyth, Mayor of Ards Borough Council.)
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