AS THE weekend before Christmas brought on a mad rush to the shops while parents island-wide whipped out the children’s ‘wish lists,’ one has to wonder if the true meaning of the festive season holds any importance to kids today amidst their requests for the latest i-Pad mini and X-box 360.
“I think it falls into two groups,” points out Father John Tyrell of St Paul’s Church in Nicosia. “There are those who have a church affiliation and those who don’t. For those who have lost touch of the religious meanings behind Christmas, it becomes just another secular holiday where presents and Santa become most important.”
Father Tyrell remains convinced that it all comes down to the way children are raised. “What kids know usually depends on what has been predominantly passed on to them by parents and schooling. If Christmas is associated with a time of worship then they will be inclined to remember the real reasons why we celebrate it.”
“Christmas has become highly commercialized, I doubt most kids today recognise the true meaning behind the day,” reflects Rick Dugan, Pastor of the Nicosia International Church. “I wish that people would remember that it’s really about the birth of Christ- the flesh and son of God. This truly dwarfs any play station game that kids might get.”
But this doesn’t mean that giving gifts has to have negative connotations. “Of course, it’s a happy occasion and I always give gifts to my kids. I’m not against that; after all it’s a time of giving and a symbol of what God has given to us. There’s a symbolic meaning behind the tradition. I’m 46-year-old now and things haven’t changed that much- as a kid I was always just really excited to get presents.”
While religious education is included in the school curriculum here in Cyprus, state schools place a focus on Greek Orthodox religion while private schools are more inclined to teach religious studies that encompass all religious beliefs. And despite concerns that children may be losing track of tradition, it turns out that the i-Pad generation give more importance to the meaning behind Christmas that we may give them credit for.
“I definitely look forward to Christmas as a holiday but I also remember religion because we go to Church with my dad on the morning of the 25th,” says the 12-year-old Greek Cypriot Stavros. “I do think of Jesus too because Christouenna (Christmas) in Greek literally means the birth of Christ.”
Sixteen-year-old Stephanie also spends time at church during the build up to the big day, explaining that it has always been a family tradition. “My family is very religious and we also even go to church for Epiphany. I also fast the week before Christmas and in my house we really place a big emphasis on the birth of Christ.”
Seeming to embrace the churchgoing experience because of family habits, Stephanie is also rather excited about the fact that Christmas always gives her the chance to get together with cousins and other family members she may not have seen for a while. “Sometimes we’ve gone through bad patches with family members and I think that this time of year somehow makes us bond. We play games, we eat, and we sing carols. I do really like it.”
Others simply rejoice in the fact that they don’t have to go to school and can spend more time with their friends while some don’t go to church but still feel that Christmas is a time of appreciation and sharing.
“I’m not really religious,” admits George, an 18-year-old American Cypriot. “But I do think that Christmas is a time when people should come together. It’s a warm feeling of having people you love around you and a cheerful atmosphere in general.” One 16-year-old boy named Paris is a slightly more cynical in his approach the holiday season. “It’s a time of year when we all celebrate mass consumerism in an orgy of spending and shopping.” And does he enjoy it? “Well, theoretically I shouldn’t but it’s a guilty pleasure. I do expect to get presents.”
Whether kids today are religious or not, there is still a basic general knowledge about the basis of Christmas and the story of the birth of Jesus, with almost all of the teenagers in question aware of the basics including how Mary found out she was pregnant, why her and Joseph had to sleep in a stable in Bethlehem, and the role of King Herod.
Overall ignorance however seems to prevail when the children are asked about what three gifts the wise men took along to baby Jesus. “Silver, silk and I’m just not sure of the other one,” replies Stavros hesitantly. “I think it was some sort of perfume,” says his friend Vasilis. “I used to know the answer when I was young but I really have no idea right now,” admits a slightly embarrassed Tania. Perhaps when it comes to gifts, kids these days can’t really see past the allure of today’s glossy gadgets after all.