It’s time for the big Christmas debate. You know the one: is it too early to start the Christmas buzz in November?
As someone who starts counting down the start of their summer holidays six months in advance my thoughts on Christmas won’t really come as a shock to anyone. Once Hallowe’en has come and gone, why not start getting into the festive mood?
For the majority of us it’s a happy time. Most of us get a few days off work, we get to eat loads, have a few drinks, and exchange presents. Why wouldn’t you want to get into the swing of things as early as you can?
In Dublin city centre the Christmas lights were turned on at the weekend, some three weeks early, to try to encourage shoppers.
Retailers in the capital are reporting that although there are just as many shoppers in the city as there were last year, they are being more cautious with their spending. While reports show that retail sales have fallen every month this year, except in January and August.
It is believed that over €1 million has been spent on new low energy Christmas lights for the city centre.
Low energy is always good. It’s all about the environment these days. Which is not a bad thing. A lot of lights go up at this time of the year, and with those pesky electricity bills on the rise, we all need to be doing what we can. But €1 million?
It’s a scary time of the year, and recent figures reflect on the growing reality that we’re all broke! Don’t worry, this isn’t another rant about how the Government is useless, but more a reminder that no matter how badly off you are, there is always someone worse off out there.
It’s so easy to get wrapped up in planning Christmas. There’s the party with work, perhaps a party with your friends, not to mention all the family gatherings, reunions with old school friends. While at the same time keeping the purse strings tight.
I hate talk of recession, credit crunch, and so on. It’s all a bit too depressing for my liking. But as much as I’d love to ignore the whole situation, after talking with Stuart Kenny of the Society of St Vincent de Paul the reality is clear.
The Society of St Vincent de Paul is a direct service non-profit organisation whose work primarily involves person-to-person contact with people who have a variety of needs. In addition to direct assistance, they try to promote self-sufficiency, enabling people to help themselves. Any assistance offered by the Society is given in a non-judgemental spirit of compassion, based on the needs of the individual or family.
Some €50 million will be spent this year by the charity. And with calls for help rising by almost 40 per cent this year and one in four people calling for the first time it is clear that there has never been a greater demand for the charity’s services.
Christmas is an expensive and demanding time of the year as it is, but for some of us it’s even harder. SVP aims to help these families and individuals, but it can’t do it alone. They need volunteers, goods, and donations. All of which, when given locally, stay locally.
We’re all having a bit of a hard time of it at the moment, but remember that for those out there who were already struggling this is going to be an even tougher time.
For more information log on to www.SVP.ie
