Switching On the Sun

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Geseënde Kersfees en 'n gelukkige nuwe jaarGeseënde Kersfees en 'n voorspoedige Nuwe jaar! Gëzuar Krishtlindjet e Vitin e Ri! Kamgan Ukudigaa! E güeti Wïnâchte un e gleckichs Nej Johr! መልከም ልደት! Gozhqq Keshmish! اجمل التهاني بمناسبة الميلاد و حلول السنة الجديدة! Շնորհավոր Ամանոր և Սուրբ Ծնունդ! Cãrciun hãrios shi ti multsã-anji Anlu Nàù! Bones Navidaes y Gayoleru añu nuevu! Sooma Nawira-ra! Zorionak eta urte berri on! З Божым нараджэннем Сзцзаслівыцг Каліадау З Новым годам i Калядамi! শুভ বড়দিন শুভ নববর্ষ! ᖱᒣᖳᒐᒉᑊᖿᒪᔪᖱᖽᐧᒡᒧᐧᖾᒍ! Cestit Bozic i Sretna Nova godina! Nedeleg laouen ha bloavezh mat! Felis Nabidat yan Felis Año Nuebo! ᏓᏂᏍᏔᏲᎯᎲ & ᎠᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ ᎢᏤ ᎤᏕᏘᏴᎠᏌᏗᏒ! Hoesenestotse & Aa'eEmona'e! 聖誕節快樂, 新年快樂 恭喜發財! 圣诞快乐 新年快乐! Yukpa, Nitak Hollo Chito! Tsaa Nu̶u̶sukatu̶̲ Waa Himaru̶! ᒥᑐ ᒪᑯᓯ ᑫᓯᑲᓐᓯ! Afvcke Nettvcakorakko! ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒡᕕᒻᒥ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒋᑦ/ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᕝᕕᓯᐅᑦᓯᐊᕆᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᕿᑎᙳᒪᕆᒃ! Bonan Kristnaskon kaj feliĉan novan jaron! Rõõmsaid Jõule ja Head Uut Aastat H...

5 days to go… Sensing little time left before Christmas, one is time-pressed to rather complete the season’s requisites. Other than the thought of what to serve for a Christmas feast, gift-giving remains to be one if not the most joyful observed custom. It is after all an expression of what Christmas is all about – Giving. Thus, people are keen on conveying momentous bounty this time of the year. Speaking of which, whatever it is that’s given is secondary compared to the generosity behind it. If such gesture though is carried out just to express “giving” sans sincerity, it defeats the purpose. “It’s the thought that counts” is not to be believed as conscientious of the idea of giving but the consideration of what could possibly be either appreciated or needed – that’s thoughtful liberality as opposed to “as long as I’ve given something”. On the other hand, recipients have to be more thankful of the thought regardless of what it is (unless perhaps it was mockingly given to elicit disgus...