Christmas Together

Thank you all for coming to the

Sociology , Psychology and Media
Studies Liturgy
 Sociology
1. Christmas is a very special time of year which is celebrated by
people of different faiths all over the world.
2. In fact it is now a truly international religious festival as people
stop work around the world to have a well earned break.
3. We all tend to share the same norms and values at Christmas. It
is normal to be together with the family and celebrate the unity
of people who are biologically related. We also tend to share
the same values peace, tranquility, a break from the tensions
of day to day life and a time to recuperate.
4. Christmas also reminds us of the teachings of Jesus especially
those he gave in the Sermon on the Mount, stressing love for
one another, forgiveness and the importance of not judging.
5. Without these common values which we try and share together
society could hardly exist.
 Psychology
1. Most people regard Christmas as a happy time. However research suggests that
how much happiness Christmas brings depends greatly on what a person is
focused upon over the festive period.
2. A study by Kasser suggests that people find Christmas to be a happier
experience when there is more emphasis on family and religious experiences.
People whos Christmas are focused more on spending money and receiving
gifts experience less well-being over the Christmas period. The overall conclusion
was that materialistic aspects of modern Christmas celebrations may undermine
well-being, while family and spiritual activities may help people to feel more
satisfied.
3. Another study carried out at Warwick university also found that focusing on the
real meaning of Christmas rather than gifts and spending makes people happier.
It was argued that people who focuses more on community for example by
donating money to charity, helping others, and spending good quality time with
the people they love tend to be happier over the Christmas period.
 Media studies
1) Many Christmas stories have been adapted to films and TV specials.
One example is the film It's a Wonderful Life, in which George Bailey, is a
businessman who sacrificed his dreams to help his community. On
Christmas Eve, a guardian angel finds him in despair and prevents him
from committing suicide, by magically showing him how much he meant
to the world around him.
2.) Another is the TV version of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, in which the
elderly miser Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by ghosts and learns the errors of
his ways. By contrast, the hero of the former, George Bailey, is a
businessman who sacrificed his dreams to help his community. On
Christmas Eve, a guardian angel finds him in despair and prevents him
from committing suicide, by magically showing him how much he meant
to the world around him. Other films often seen around the Christmas
period are The Wizard of Oz , Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, E.T. , Mary Poppins,
Oliver!, The Sound of Music and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory .
3.) At Christmas families often go together to see The Nutcracker ballet
and go to Handels Messiah.
 Prayer
Each of these subjects shows us that
Christmas brings us together as a community
and is always best enjoyed TOGETHER.
Let us now say our prayer of community.

Our Father..............................................