Value added Christmas

We are just two days away from Christmas. You look around you and you see angels, stars and baubles, you hear Christmassy music, cards are being sent and received, presents have been bought... the list is endless. One must however ask: Is this what Christmas is all about? Is this what the Christmas spirit really is?

Many people among us complain that the Christmas period has become too materialistic, with an emphasis on the quantity of money spent rather than quality. Spending a Christmas of high quality does not in any way entail spending a large quantity of money. Quality refers to the way time is spent - doing things you enjoy with people you care about. Christmas is a time for rejoicing not being stressed because the presents have not yet been bought or the dress does not fit.

This is why the members of ZAK - Zghazagh Azzjoni Kattolika (Catholic Action Youth ) - chose to focus on this aspect of Christmas in their annual Christmas campaign. This has been aptly named Value Added Christmas (VAC). We are constantly being bombarded with things which yield a higher value; two-for-one promotions and sales, to name just two. However how much importance do we pay to the value of our own lives? In order to put this much talked about aspect into action, numerous activities, both internally within the ZAK groups, and externally, with the rest of the community, are being organised which focus on this idea. The idea is being developed differently in the different parishes where ZAK groups exist, depending on the way the members decide to express themselves.

Thus, one idea which has been developed by a particular ZAK group, which is aimed to the parish community, is an activity for children. Through mime, story-telling and crafts, the children will be exposed to the values which this campaign is promoting. The activity aims to make the children aware of the totality of what the Christmas spirit is. Although children will always enjoy receiving presents they will be made to think about the reason why they are receiving the presents. Hopefully, it is not only these children who will be affected by this but the whole community.

Have you ever really thought about why we are celebrating at this time of year? This does not in any way imply I will be spending my holidays thinking about the value of Christmas but by being involved in this campaign I have begun to appreciate more the actions I have for so long taken for granted.

ZAK would like to thank those who supported our campaign, primarily Xfm radio which is continuously spreading our messages. For more information about the Value Added Christmas.

www.zakmalta.org

pro@zakmalta.org