It is a bit of a novelty to publish a newspaper on Christmas Day.
Of course, the paper itself was printed earlier to accommodate well-earned time off for our staff to enjoy with their loved ones.
It is during that time we suspect songs of old will play in the background. The range of songs might include old traditional hymns like Silent Night, Bing Cosby’s White Christmas or fun Mariah Carey songs. Since time immemorial, music has been an inspiring element of the world’s many cultures. From the most sombre of hymns to uplifting ballads, music entertains and shares a message.
John Lennon’s classic Happy Christmas (War is Over) still resonates, as does Do They Know It’s Christmas by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure. The success of that Band Aid fundraiser led to the USA for Africa campaign We are the World. We recently watched a great documentary on the topic of those fundraising efforts and the perilous times in Ethiopia. Along with a good dose of gratitude for living in that period and experiencing almost six decades of progress, we ended up with a thought for this column.
It is a simple hope for readers at this special time of year. Listen to some music, be grateful for what you have and find the peace you so richly deserve.
It’s Christmas time.
