For my Christmas article this year, I thought it would be appropriate to write about How the Grinch Stole Christmas! With recession in full swing, the cost of living crisis and the Tories pushing for Austerity, now feels like the time to remember the deeper meaning that Cindy Lou and the Who’s teach The Grinch.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is a great story, written by Dr. Seuss in 1957. It has had multiple film adaptations across the years, all portraying the key message in heartwarming ways. If you have been living under a rock (or perhaps a cave on Mount Crumpit), here is a quick synopsis if you haven’t seen the films:
The Grinch and his loyal dog, Max, live a lonely existence inside a cave on Mount Crumpit. The Grinch is an incredibly sarcastic and bitter character, and he becomes particularly unnerved during the Christmas holidays when his neighbours in Whoville celebrate with extravagance. When the Whos decide to make Christmas even bigger, the unhinged Grinch hatches a scheme to pose as Santa Claus, steal Christmas and silence the Whos' holiday cheer once and for all. But Cindy Lou Who had other plans. She shows the Grinch that Christmas is not about gift-giving, it is about being with the people you love.
Christmas is a time we typically overspend and overstress. In the run-up to Christmas, stressed-out shoppers run riot. And to that end, the overworked staff in these retail spaces, who rarely get to spend meaningful time with their own family and friends at Christmas, get abused by customers daily. While shopping this year - keep that in mind!
But in Dr. Seuss's book, gift giving and receiving is not the point. In fact, it's entirely beside the point. When the Grinch steals their mountains of gifts, the Whos simply shrug it off. They come together to enjoy the true meaning of Christmas, being with the ones you love. Even when all of the gifts had been hoovered up into the Grinch's bag and the decorations destroyed, the Whos can still celebrate Christmas because actually, the Grinch didn't steal Christmas at all. Christmas is that warm feeling and sense of community that lives inside all the Whos (and us), with or without gifts. And that's just why the Grinch's plan fails - nothing could take that community spirit away.
We all know a Grinch at Christmas, and we should not be quick to judge those who lack the ability to find happiness during the holidays. It is a privilege to enjoy the holidays that many of us take for granted, many don't have the loved ones that once defined Christmas for them; many don't have somewhere to celebrate or people to celebrate with. During Christmastime, when there is an increasing overdose of holiday merchandise, marketing, and social media noise, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! teaches us that our hearts must grow double at Christmas, so that everyone can enjoy the time no matter what situation they are in. This year more than ever we need to give help and love to those in need.
And although we should try our hardest to support those in need, this should not be a cop-out for the government. When the Tories push for Austerity, they rely on the public and local communities to have empathy and step up to look after the vulnerable that they (the government) are responsible for. We are more than happy to do it, but let us not forget that they are the ones not taxing the huge corporations - they have the choice to help us and they actively choose not to.
Whilst watching the film, we learn a lesson alongside the Grinch. Christmas is a spirit, a state of mind, a joyous feeling. “Maybe Christmas (he thought) doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more.”
Let’s take a moment to enjoy the incredible comedic value of the grinch. One of the most iconic quotes from the Grinch, especially in recent years - often misused by those in marketing - is when he is listing off his plan for the evening:
“4:00, wallow in self-pity. 4:30, stare into the abyss. 5:00, solve world hunger, tell no one. 5:30, jazzercize; 6:30, dinner with me. I can't cancel that again. 7:00, wrestle with my self-loathing. I'm booked. Of course, if I bump the loathing to 9, I could still be done in time to lay in bed, stare at the ceiling and slip slowly into madness.”
The Grinch’s relatability comes from seeming to be characterised as a middle-aged woman, "Am I just eating because I'm bored? … Stupid. Ugly. Out of date. This is ridiculous. If I can't find something nice to wear I'm not going." He is iconic.
So, this Christmas, try to take the time to slow down. Take a breath and reflect on the happiness and beauty that this season brings. Think of ways you can share this joy with others beyond your circle of friends and family. Consider how you could help those in need; be there for someone lonely or ill; or to those grieving the loss of a loved one or suffering from unemployment this year. And maybe, there will be a ‘Grinch’ out there who will be moved by your love and generosity this Christmas.
“Christmas Day will always be just as long as we have we.”
If you or someone you know requires extra help this year, here are a few links with advice, grants and charities that are available to help:
And if you find yourself fortunate enough to have any spare cash this month, here are some charities you could donate to:
Comentarios