The jingling of bells and the impeccably adorable decoration in homes and shops indicate Christmas Day. Santa Claus, the name that has been given to the harbinger of happiness and joy, adds a special element of innocence to the festive season. The hearts of people are filled with excitement and joy, as they decorate Christmas trees with ornaments. Tomorrow, they will welcome guests, bake cakes and cookies, sing carols, and exchange gifts. Apart from celebrating Christmas at home with their loved ones, Fijians travelled to islands and villages to be with their extended families. The spirit of sharing and caring will be the highlight. Thus, let positive vibes surround us during this year’s Christmas Day celebration.
The religious significance of Christmas
Christmas is celebrated on December 25 and is both a sacred and cultural-religious holiday. For years, people around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ, a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion. Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends, and exchanging gifts. According to Christians, we celebrate Christmas because the birth of Jesus Christ was good news. The birth of Jesus caused great joy. We celebrate Christmas because a Saviour was born, and he would deliver us from sin and death. We celebrate Christmas with gift-giving because of the indescribable gift that God gave us. We celebrate Christmas by stringing lights because the Light of the world came to us. We celebrate Christmas with carols and choirs because they express joy and delight. The Christmas tree, the most significant symbol of Christmas, is an evergreen tree, representing life. The custom of erecting a Christmas tree is historically traced to the 15th century. The tree was traditionally decorated with edibles such as apples and nuts, but these days decorated with ornaments and lights.
Celebrating Christmas in Fiji
The lyrics of Boney M’s Feliz Navidad and Mary’s Boy Child set the platform for this year’s Christmas. Despite the hike in prices of cakes, soft drinks and toys, the Christmas fever had not drowned as shoppers filled their trollies with last-minute goodies and children got their desired gifts. Unlike our days, where parents resorted to cheap Christmas toys such as plastic balls, dolls and plastic water guns, this generation is lucky in the sense they get gifted with jerseys, mobile phones, electronic gadgets, laptops and overseas trips. Resorts and hotels have also been booked by those who can afford them, and friends and loved ones will celebrate together. Barbecue and lovo will be tucked in by many, while others would prefer goat meat. Friends will get together for kava and drinks. Christmas unites families – it brings them together. Some families will be sharing their goodies with their neighbours and those unfortunate and needy ones. For some, Christmas is just another day. They will be driving taxis, minivans and buses, selling along the roadside and outside markets, and looking for means to earn something for the family table. If we are blessed with sunny days and beautiful weather, expect picnic spots to be crowded with people. Then there would be those who would be celebrating Christmas in church and will be having a meal in the comfort of their loved ones. Those who lost a loved one would reminisce about the golden days.
Early Christmas lunch
with our heroes I decided to celebrate this year’s Christmas with lunch at home. It touched my heart when three members of the Fiji Airways men’s 7s team joined me. Waisea Nacuqu, Pilipo Bukayaro and Alasio Naduva blessed my family with their presence on Wednesday. Chatting with them, I did not see any signs that these boys are world-class players. It’s rare to fi nd such humble, down to earth, kind, loving and respectful players who have toured the world and won numerous titles with the national 7s team. The boys will be marching in camp for next month’s Hamilton and Sydney 7s tournaments, and I’m positive coach Ben Gollings and Viliame Satala will rectify the errors made in Dubai andCape Town and build a winning
team. Losses in the second leg have made our boys hungry for the Hamilton 7s title!
Sumeet Tappoo fulfils dream
It’s rare to see a Fijian watching the World Cup football live from the stands. However, international and national icon Sumeet Tappoo fulfilled his dream. It had been a dream of Sumeet to go and see the World Cup final and with God’s grace, he had the opportunity to go to Qatar. It was a phenomenal experience. Watching it live was incomparable. Sumeet was so impressed with the hospitality of the entire nation of Qatar and the infrastructure made it very easy for him to travel and attend the matches. He met many journalists, officials and fans who said the Qatar World Cup was the best they had been to simply because everything was located in one city, making it accessible and allowing all to converge in the same place. The atmosphere was amazing and the country
was buzzing with football energy. People from all over the world and from all walks of life gathered in the spirit of football and oneness and there was so much of love, passion and positivity in the air.
Sumeet’s love for Argentina goes back to 1985, when he visited Vancouver with his family and on TV he saw his fi rst football game. Argentina played as the late Diego Maradona did his magic. Sumeet became an instant fan as he was mesmerised by him and the team and he began supporting them. In 1986, Argentina won the World Cup with the late Maradona proving to be their hero. Unfortunately, that was their last victory and Sumeet waited in vain for 36 years for them to win it again. Sumeet knows all the Argentina players.
According to him, the team in Qatar was solid in defence and midfield and rather than just relying on Messi, the players supported him with very good tactics and strategies. Sumeet’s all-time favourite Argentina players are the late Maradona and Lionel Messi. He said Maradona’s death was very painful for him because he had dreamt of meeting him, but it was never to be. He, however, has a signed jersey of his and that is a very prized possession. Sumeet shared some painful moments that he endured, especially losing the 1990 and 2014 World Cup finals to Germany. In 2014, Germany hit the winner late into extra time, and it is a hurt which will never be erased. Heading into this year’s final, the task was very stressful. The final was nervewracking. When Argentina won, Sumeet looked up to the heavens, shed tears and thanked the Lord and the late Maradona, who, he was sure, was looking down and pushing the team. To watch the World Cup was special, but to watch his beloved Argentina and Messi win to become champions was the single greatest special sporting moment of his life. According to Sumeet, the atmosphere was divine and he jumped and sang with the Argentina fans during and after the game who thought he was an Argentinian because he was singing songs with them. There were thousands of Argentine supporters in
Qatar and the players they were playing a home game. It was my privilege to see Messi live and win the World Cup.
Embrace togetherness, savour family ties and love
While we are celebrating Christmas, let’s embrace togetherness and savour family ties and love. At the same time, let’s remember the needy and unfortunate ones. Many families are looking for desperate ways to survive, and any help rendered to them will give them hope and comfort. It will rekindle the true meaning of Christmas. I plead with drivers and pedestrians to exercise caution while on the road. To the drivers – please say no to speeding and drink and driving. It is also important for parents to supervise their children and keep track of their children’s movement and wellbeing. Police officers, who will be manning roads and patrolling streets, need our support. Let’s make life easier for them by avoiding unnecessary fights and accidents. Staying together
and looking after each other is imperative. Thus, I wish the staff and readers of our number one The Fiji Times an enterprising, eventful and a blessed, merry and safe Christmas! Let’s enjoy this year’s festive season to the brim, but stay safe and value life.
- RAJNESH LINGAM is a regular contributor to this newspaper. The views expressed are the author’s and do not reflect the views of this newspaper.
