RECENT charity events and festivals, usually well supported by locals, all have had the same complaints in common: poor turn-out, minimal spending and small donations compared to previous years.
No matter how well organised, advertised and presented, the events yielded disappointing results for organisers and beneficiaries bargaining on a bulging Christmas stocking.
According to seasoned volunteers involved in various fundraising initiatives, the trend is no indicator that the community is less willing to turn out their pockets for a good cause, but simply that the majority of households have no expendable income and are themselves battling to cover basic needs.
Yet, year after year, and despite the tightening economic stranglehold, rising food prices and more retrenchments, we fall into the collective trap of silly season, throwing caution to the wind and going overboard with everything.
We eat too much, drink too much and spend too much.
Everybody is tired after a long year and looking forward to revel in the festivities.
We feel entitled to have a good time, because it’s the jolly season.
But with the excitement, comes the anxiety of knowing that the Christmas bonus is far less than adequate to cover travelling, entertainment, family gatherings and the inevitable swapping of gifts.
Children being children, their wish lists are long, because Santa does not have budgetary constraints and as long as mom leaves cookies and milk, every gift will be ready for collection on Christmas morning.
Where families come together, gifts involve politics and fancy footwork. How much did what cost, who received what from whom, who did not receive anything, who got better and more expensive gifts, who was left out and who will not make next year’s guest list because they were stingy.
So, out come the credit cards, which are swiped fast enough to catch alight.
Come January, jolly turns out to be folly.
Traditions are hard if not impossible to break, but let’s make a collective effort to remember that it is a sheer privilege to be alive, see another day and live in a part of the world where no war is raging.
The best gifts are usually the ones which can’t be bought with money – time, attention, lavish love, compliments, jokes, laughter and sharing.
They are the only gifts which do not come with price tags, will seldom be forgotten and can’t be broken.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp – 072 069 4169
Instagram – zululand_observer
