Whether you consider Christmas as having a religious significance or just celebrate it as any other secular holiday, I think everybody will agree that the season is meant to be a season of giving and sharing. Add to that love, peace, camaraderie, and all the good values that you could think of. After all, any of such good values, I think, is enough excuse to be celebrating. The season is significant for each one of us in our own personal way.
What annoys me, however, is how this holiday has been corrupted over the years.
Yesterday, I noticed that as early as 8 a.m., kids were already doing their “rounds”. Each were dressed in their best clothes and either had a little knapsack or a small purse. Usually they traveled in groups composed mostly of children between 7-10 years old. I don’t see any of the groups walking with an adult. They went from house to house, ringing on the doorbells and would greet “Namamasko po!” in chorus, when the gate or door opens. If they’re lucky, they’ll be handed out envelopes containing some cash or some goodie bags with candies or chocolates. After getting their stuff, they’ll be going to the next house in the row (or maybe to the next bigger house) and along the way they’ll be comparing stuff that they’ve got or who received the biggest sum of cash. And by mid- to late morning, they’re burdened with money, candies, and gifts and are all ready to go back home, wherever they live. Not all of those kids came from the neighborhood, as I’ve seen many unfamiliar faces.
While that this is a season for giving and sharing, this should not simply mean that we invoke the spirit of christmas just so persuade others to give us something (in some cases, forcibly). I think the parents of these kids are teaching them wrong values by encouraging them to ask money or any other stuff from strangers, even going to their homes just so that it will be harder for them to refuse to give. By doing so, these kids will grow up thinking that christmas is the season for getting money and they’ll be thinking that they’re “entitled” to such because they’re kids and they’re in need, etcetera. I wouldn’t have hesitated to give some money or food if these are beggars in the street asking for money just so they can have something to eat for christmas. But these kids are not beggars. They have homes. They have family. They can afford clothing, judging from their appearance.
And then, again, it wouldn’t really have hurt to give them some money or candies because they’re just kids who wanted to have a little enjoyment during christmas. But it is annoying to hear kids who, after being given something, would be complaining to himself or to his companions that he only got coins (”Ay, limang piso lang? Kuripot naman.“) or that this other kid got more because he got to that house earlier, etcetera. As I’ve said, that practice is teaching the youth that christmas is all about getting money.
But if somebody is (again) going to point out that this is all because of worsening poverty in the country, I’ll have to disagree. Being poor doesn’t mean one has to lose one’s values. And I personally know a couple of families who’re not so financially blessed but would never think of peddling their children from house to house just so they could get some money to spend for christmas. If they will be given gifts by neighbors, then they’re thankful. If not, then it is all right, but they’re not going to ask for it as if they’re entitled to such because it is christmas. Neither do their children complain of what they get as gifts or if they don’t get gifts. Like I’ve said, a lack in finances should not make one lose his values. However, it’s unfortunate that some people would think so.
