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‘Christmas,
a season of goodwill and celebrations’
By Susitha R. Fernando
People have different ideas about celebrating Christmas. Having
a good time merry making and the extravagances of shopping, dining
and wining throughout the festive season and extending it to the
coming year or sharing the joy of the birth of Christ , a gift from
God, exchanging gifts, in short spending it reverently with the
pride of joy shared.
This
is what some of the top notch of the local showbiz personalities
have to say whe they get connected to TV Times last week.
Dr.
Lester James Peiris Filmmaker
The birth of Christ is fundamentally (that the God we believe in
came to this world) the message of Christmas.
This
should be kept in mind in everything we do this season. Christians
believe that Christmas is the coming of God into this world as the
redeemer of mankind. This is the essence of Christmas. This is a
time of joy. Joy shared with goodwill among the needy. It is not
just sending a card or merrymaking only. It is a feeling of empathy,
giving glory to God and peace to all men of goodwill.
Prof.
Sunil Ariyaratne writer and filmmaker
The
essence of Christmas lies in the famous verses of late Rev. Fr.
Marcelline Jayakody, ‘Mage Naththala Dugiya Bathkana Daya…’
(The Christmas for me is the day that the hungry are fed). I see
this emphasis more than ever now. And it is a time to pay honour
to a great religious leader, who sacrificed his life for whole mankind.
This is the base of the Christian literature too.
Nalin
Perera - singer (Marians)
This
year we have decided not to take any concert or shows on Christmas
day. Our group is a mix of Christians and Buddhists yet all volunteered
to donate our income during the festive season to the Tsunami victims
and the needy.
Tony
Ranasinghe - Actor
As
a Christian, Christmas is a day of significance which should be
celebrated with reverence and joy. It is not only dressing well
and having a ball. We must learn to preserve the sanctity of the
event. It is sharing the message of Christ which is peace on earth
to all men which brings in unity in brotherhood. Christmas has a
message for all time and it is relevant to today as it was twenty
centuries ago.
Somaweera
Senanayake - writer
Christmas
I consider as a celebration that several communities can be celebrate.
It is a celebration common to a large number of Tamils as well as
Sinhalese thus it is a celebration despite racial differences.
On
the other hand we see that there is a new culture that has emerged
making Christmas a common celebration. And it is also time of peace
and unity just like the Sinhala New Year. If we can celebrate Christmas
also just like Sinhala New Year it will be an important festival
for whole Sri Lanka.
Kanchana
Mendis - Actress
Today Christmas has lost its meaning in our consumeristic society.
It is relevant to go back to the first Christmas and share our joy
with the Tsunami affected and needy with our prayers and or gifts.
Christmas means to me more than new clothes and merrymaking. It
means preparing for the second coming of Christ as well as commemorating
the first. Going to church and spiritual preparation take first
place in my agenda.
Nita
Fernando - Actress
Christmas is a time of peace to all men of goodwill. This year we
have a new President and a new government. Let us hope our leader
will seek and welcome a lasting peace. Celebrating Christmas for
me starts on December 17, the octave before Christmas where I share
the joy of Christmas with the less fortunate in memory of my dear
husband. Christmas for me is a family celebration.
Malani
Fonseka - Actress
Though I am not a Christian from our childhood I saw Christmas as
a time of joy and happiness. While Christians celebrated it devotedly
we too experienced great enjoyment during this time. We also see
that not only people but the environment with a cool climate has
enhanced the great feeling among the people.
However
we cannot advocate the unnecessary extravagances. If we can share
our happiness with the needy Christmas will be a great occasion
for all of us.
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