Call it the sillier-than-usual season: nothing can be taken for granted any more – Sydney Morning Herald

Those reading this with a Christmas tree twinkling away in their peripheral vision are probably happier than those who are not. So say various psychologists interviewed by major news outlets on the ritual of putting up early Christmas decorations. Decorations, one psychologist told the US show Today, are an anchor or pathway to those old childhood magical emotions of excitement.

Finding my way to that pathway is especially difficult this year because its my third successive Christmas away from Australia. Ive lived out of the country, on and off, for two decades, but Id always manage to find a way home in December. Christmas meant paper party hats and prosecco and prawns, all enjoyed under the glorious warmth of an Australian sun.

I began plotting Christmas adornments in earnest last month an attempt to evoke joy from a year as wretched as wet papier-mch.Credit:iStock

While borders are now open (albeit tenuously, given recent developments), I remain exiled by my aversion to spending 24 hours on a plane with two toddlers. So, clinging to the new-found knowledge that early decorators are cheerier people, I began plotting Christmas adornments in earnest last month an attempt to evoke joy from a year as wretched as wet papier-mch.

Its why Im desperately seeking a spot on Santas lap for kids only dimly aware of his existence; acquiring advent calendars for everyone in the house, even though half its residents cannot yet count; and, against my partners preferences, ordering matching seasonal pyjamas featuring candy canes and snowmen.

For the first time this year, we had family photos taken for Christmas cards. In October. During a warm spell. With everyone sweating in red jumpers and reindeer horns. (My favourite card from a friend last year featured her two boys tearing up her living-room with the caption EVERYTHING IS FINE. )

Gratitude is certainly something I feel acutely this year, even before decking the halls.

Judging by how difficult it is to nab an appointment with Santa at our local mall, how far in advance I had to book the Christmas card photo shoot, or the fact that Mariah Careys All I Want for Christmas Is You was on high rotation at the supermarket weeks ago, Im not the only one going all-in this year. Call it the sillier-than-usual season. Theres a sense that nothing can be taken for granted any more, not even the orderly ticking over of one year to the next. COVID-19 has exposed the surprisingly fine line between hedonism and nihilism: lets celebrate, because nothing matters. That would be the name of my Christmas song.

At the same time, global supply-chain problems and here I wave my hands vaguely at a picture of piled-up shipping containers means a refocusing of attention not on the perfect gift, but on creating indelible experiences.

To this end, Ive noticed friends pausing while recounting their Christmas plans to add caveats about how lucky they are to be celebrating with family, or injecting a note of real sentiment concerning togetherness when in the past theyd have expressed overwhelm about logistics.

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Call it the sillier-than-usual season: nothing can be taken for granted any more - Sydney Morning Herald