Peace on earth, goodwill to all

We shake our heads at all the commercialism of Christmas, the vast sums of money spent decorating and illuminating buildings and the unbearable crush of shoppers. But judging from the very pleased audience in the atrium of the shopping mall I'm in, the shows they mount to attract people really does spread some good cheer. Even the performers, especially if they are amateurs like this church choir now caroling on stage, are enjoying themselves.

I notice the elderly white couple, definitely tourists, come down the escalator and join the back of the standing crowd. The woman says to her husband, "They're very good, aren't they?", and they both beam widely.

The First Noel was, I must record, beautifully rendered by the choir that day, and that is inspiration in itself, but I can't help thinking of all the strands that have come together to make this moment. We have on stage 12 yuppie-looking Chinese and one ethnic South Indian, singing in the English language, to music with Western harmonies, about a Jewish baby born in Bethlehem, a place that is now predominantly inhabited by Muslim Palestinians. We have an audience like a United Nations, not all of them understanding the English lyrics. They are mainly Chinese faces, but liberally admixed with Indonesians, Thais, Americans white and black, Middle-Easterners, Indians and Papuans. On my left are two little old ladies from Japan, and leaning on a pillar a little way from my right, are two lanky blondes from Northern Europe. Despite their diverse origins, all appear to be familiar with the carols being sung and are visibly delighted to be carried along by the voices. And each in his own way, is looking forward to the holidays around the 25th, a date that has come down to us, not from the birth of the baby, but from the pagan Roman festival of Saturnalia.

Taken together, I suppose there is meaning after all in the greeting, "Peace on earth, goodwill to all."

© Yawning Bread 

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