Venkat Raman
Auckland, December 25, 2020
Greetings from all of us in Indian Newslink for a Merry Christmas.
We hope that you are enjoying the day with your family and friends at Christmas Lunch and what would be Christmas Evening and Christmas Dinner.
We are thankful to the Lord for the Blessings that have been showered on us in New Zealand, for we are able to celebrate one of the most important observances with families and friends and attend parties- whether organised for 50 or 500 people.
For, very few countries like New Zealand can celebrate Christmas this year without restrictions, while most of the world is in the grip of Coronavirus, forcing governments to close bars and restaurants and ban large gatherings.
We should be thankful to the government for its efficient management of Covid-19 when it came to our shores earlier this year. We, the Team of Five Million, despite differences over its spread, complied with the lockdown rules and hence were able to prevent the community spread.
We are not completely free of the Virus- there are still people testing positive managed isolation facilities and we hope that the government will remain tough in its resolve to ensure that New Zealand continues to be safe.
Politicians will always be politicians- always wanting to score their own points and hence in times of pandemic, as it is in times of war, we should rally together and do the right things.
Now back to Christmas.
(Facebook Screenshot)
Message from Jacinda Ardern
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has acknowledged those separated from loved ones and working through the holidays in her Christmas message.
“I want to acknowledge those that are still dealing with the impacts of Covid-19 or who are separated from their loved ones due to the global pandemic. I also want to take some time, as I always do, to acknowledge those who do not get that time off over Christmas, be it those working in our managed isolation and quarantine facilities, our essential services in hospitality, and other industries that stay up and running over the holidays,” she said.
Ms Ardern hoped that people can take time out to spend with family and friends.
“People deserve special praise this year,” she said.
blob:https://www.tvnz.co.nz/3bc391b2-7740-4fb1-84c5-e312b37ea927
Catholicity of Celebration
Christmas, like many other festivals observed by ethnic groups such as Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims, has become a celebration with catholicity (could not resist using that expression), widely marked by almost all residents.
The fact that New Zealand has grown to accept Diwali, Lantern and other festivals with the participation of European, Maori and Pacific Islander segments is indicative of the growing cohesion and integration in the society.
Christmas festivities began soon after the Diwali Season concluded this year and shopping malls, parks, gardens and other places of public congregation have ushered in the holiday spirit. With the school holidays commencing shortly (some institutions have already closed), the festival season will be geared towards Christmas and New Year. Companies would organise parties for their clients and staff, exchange greetings and gifts, promoting goodwill and companionship.
Ubiquitous Santa
Cities and towns will witness the Santa Parade and entertainment programmes.
To millions of people around the world, Santa signifies grace, dignity, honour and most important of all, the father figure. Such is the popularity of the man that he occupies most display windows, personalised executive sleigh and more.
Christmas is now the biggest-spending item in most western countries after health care and defence. The logistics of that success require Santa to be in thousands of malls by day and down millions of chimneys by night.
It is generally believed that he relies on a series of proprietary algorithms derived from Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, which allow him to be in an infinite number of places simultaneously so long as nobody believes he is really in any one of them.
Of course, Christmas has to grapple with the fundamental uncertainties affecting all modern industries. Covid-19 is of course the deadliest of them all this year. The resultant downturn in the world economy could have its effect on the financial wellbeing of countries.
Colourful season
New Zealand geared up to the festive season more than a month ago and even as lights go up on street buildings and Christmas Trees are decorated in shopping malls and homes, the weather threatens to misbehave bringing down unwanted rain at this time of the year. We hope and pray that Nature would be kind to us.
The Police and community groups are also concerned over the rising incidence of crime and violence perpetrated by youth gangs in several parts of Auckland.
But notwithstanding these, New Zealanders enjoying a period of fun, laughter, parties and of course holidays that mark Christmas and New Year.
Despite the declining levels of business confidence in recent weeks, the retail sector comprising textiles, garments, fashion clothes, gem and jewellery, skincare products, perfumes, linen, books, wines and spirits, electronic goods and a host of other goods, is reporting a busy schedule.
Shopping malls were open for extended hours on most days of the week leading up to Christmas, while the ubiquitous Santa was seen in several public places, handing out gifts to children. Hundreds of people queued up before the counters offering free gift-wrapping service available in most malls.
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