Many shops are decorated or stocked with tinsel and baubles; giving trees are welcoming gifts around the city; and carols can be heard, from the mall PA system to the rehearsals for upcoming concerts.
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It really is beginning to look like Christmas everywhere you go.
Today, December 1, is the day when many in Australia put up the household Christmas tree and decos, with a lot enhanced by external festive lights and paraphernalia for all to enjoy.
No doubt many have also started on their Christmas shopping (please, please, please don’t leave it until the eve!); work, school and club Christmas parties are in the diary; and the plans for food, drinks, pressies and celebrations for an ultimate annual occasion on December 25 are well underway.
Meanwhile, children are putting the final touches on their gift wish lists and parents are loading the kids into the car to take part in the annual pilgrimage to view the Christmas lights on local homes.
The season can be an inspiring and exciting time, but it can also be a tough and lonely time, especially for those who can’t be with friends and family, or who are sick or have lost a loved one.
This time of year can also be a worrying and heartbreaking time for those who are struggling to make ends meet; those who can’t honour any of the requests on their child’s Christmas wish list.
Possibly their greatest wish is that they can put food on the table and keep a roof over the heads.
So as we rush headlong into December, soaking up the seasonal spirit, let’s spare some care for and kindness to others.
Consider making one of those gifts on your Christmas shopping list a donation to a giving tree. It will feel as rewarding as any gift you’d get in return.
Take the time to check in with neighbours or someone you know who might be feeling lonely or isolated this Christmas. What are all those mince pies for if not for sharing? Let’s all do our bit to ensure Christmas is a memorable time, and for the right reasons.
For those eager to make a donation to a Christmas giving tree, check out Angels for the Forgotten (at the cafe next to the railway station), Kmart in Goulburn Centro, or St Saviour’s on Bourke Street (you can lend a hand to put it up on December 2).
- If we’ve missed your giving tree, please let us know to add to an online list: editorial.goulburnpost@fairfaxmedia.com.au