Tag: christmas

Christmas is here. That means it is end of the year. It is time to take stock of things. It is time to ask some questions and time to plan for the next year.

There are six questions I will be asking myself in the next few days:

-Am I healthier today than I was one year ago?
-Am I physically more active today than I was one year ago?
-Am I eating healthier today than I was one year ago?
-Am I happier today than I was one year ago?
-Am I better off today than I was one year ago?
-And how can I improve on this next year?

Just asking these questions is not enough. We should convert this into a written exercise so appropriate answers are in black and white. The next step would be to read these questions and answers aloud to your partner, to your family or to your friends.

No two years are the same. Each year there are many things one can look back on and be grateful about. Equally, there are many things we can look back on and complain about. Sometimes the glass is half full and sometimes it is half empty. And sometimes the glass isn’t there.

But the spirit of Christmas is always there. I find that so wonderful. So many people put in so much effort to make the occasion a happy one. There is something for everyone. Especially for people who are disadvantaged and marginalized in our affluent society. Christmas brings cheers for them as well.

We also know that Christmas holidays can be a time for unfortunate occurrences. It is a busy time of the year when many people take family holidays. No matter how much time you have put into planning everything, you cannot guarantee that everything will run smoothly.

Use and abuse of alcohol and food is significant at this time of the year. One study revealed that alcohol-related traffic deaths tend to be higher during the Christmas and New Year holiday periods than during the year as a whole. Christmas should be fun but it can also send your stress levels soaring. Studies have shown that one in five gets stressed during the Christmas holidays. By January, the suicide rates go up. These are just few examples of what can go wrong during the festive season. So take it easy and do not overdo anything.

This is my 23rd Christmas in Medicine Hat and in August I celebrated 10 years of writing this column. I like to thank the editors and readers of the Medicine Hat News for their support and encouragement. Allow me to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Let me end by quoting lyrics from John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Happy Christmas (War Is Over)

So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear

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Christmas is here. That means one more year is gone.

Each year is interesting in its own way. There are many things one can look back on and be grateful about. Equally, there are many things we can look back on and whine about. Sometimes the glass is half full and sometimes it is half empty. And sometimes the glass isn’t there.

But the spirit of Christmas is always there. I find that so wonderful. So many people put in so much effort to make the occasion a happy one. There is something for everyone. Especially for people who are disadvantaged and marginalized in our affluent society. Christmas brings cheers for them as well.

For the last 35 years I have lived in Britain and Canada. And I have been part of Christmas celebrations with families I have come to know over the years. That means I take the arrival of Christmas for granted without knowing the real significance of why so many Christians put in so much money and time in celebrating this event.

To educate myself I went on the Internet to learn more about Christmas. I found a site called HowStuffWorks (www.howstuffworks.com). Here is what I learnt:

There are about 1.8 billion Christians in a total world population of 5.5 billion, making it the largest religion worldwide.

The word Christmas comes from the words Cristes maesse, or “Christ’s Mass.” Most historians peg the first celebration of Christmas to Rome in 336 A.D. Christmas was largely a non-event in America until the 1860s.

The tradition of gifts seems to have started with the gifts that the wise men (the Magi) brought to Jesus. No one was really in the habit of exchanging elaborate gifts until late in the 1800s.

Is December 25 really the day Jesus was born? No one really knows. What is known is that Christian leaders in 336 A.D. set the date to December 25 in an attempt to eclipse a popular pagan holiday in Rome that celebrated the winter solstice. Originally, the celebration of Christmas involved a simple mass.

Placing of a small evergreen tree in living room is a German tradition, started as early as 700 A.D.

Mistletoe has apparently been used as a decoration in houses for thousands of years and is also associated with many pagan rituals. Mistletoe was banned in churches throughout the Middle Ages. Hanging of mistletoe over the front door is a Scandinavian tradition for goddess of love (Frigga).

There are many other traditions associated with Christmas. It is hard to explain each tradition in detail in the limited space here but they are worth mentioning: placing of log in the fire place, putting poinsettias on the hearth, fruitcakes saturated with alcoholic liquors (nobody knows how they got attached to Christmas), hanging of oversized socks on the mantel, exchanging of Christmas cards, listening to same Christmas songs over and over again, 12 days of Christmas, singing of Christmas carols in the neighborhood, celebration of Christmas eve, characterization of Santa as a short, fat and jolly pipe smoker who wears outlandish clothes, reindeer named Rudolf, nativity scene etc.

Well, again, what do I know about Christmas to preach to the converted? But I know one thing for sure – it is indeed fun to be part of Christmas celebrations. And I am happy to enjoy the holiday season with my friends and family.

Let me wish you all Merry Christmas, happy and safe holiday season and Happy New Year. See you next year!

Start reading the preview of my book A Doctor's Journey for free on Amazon. Available on Kindle for $2.99!

“Religion is a way of walking, not a way of talking.”

William R. Inge (1868-1957)

Christmas is almost here and that gives me a chance to talk about religion.

I have lived in four continents and I have spent most of my adult life amongst people of different religions. I agree with Robert Burton (1577-1640), who said, “One religion is as true as another.” All religions teach the same virtues – forgiveness, kindness and generosity.

If one religion is as true as another then why do we need so many labels? Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) said that sensible men are all of the same religion. And what religion is that? Sensible men never tell!

But the current world atmosphere makes it difficult not to talk about one’s religion. Look at the politicians in this country and the USA. Religious beliefs come up for discussion all the time. Elections are fought and won on what is religiously right. It seems our values and politics are judged on the basis of our religion. There is no end to stereotyping.

What I don’t understand is why it is necessary for a sensible man to talk about his religion in public? Here, I agree with Sean O’Casey (1880-1964), who said “I think we ought to have as great a regard for religion as we can, so as to keep it out of as many things as possible.” To this I would add, let common sense prevail so that society can be just and kind.

Every religion has its share of bigots, zealots and fanatics. This is not something new. It’s been there for centuries. These people promote their brand of religious beliefs which promote divisions and hatred rather than forgiveness, kindness and generosity.

But I believe the vast majority of people (whatever their religion) use religion and spiritualism to promote good health, happiness and brotherhood of man. It is used to achieve peace and tranquility in life.

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) said, “Life as we find it is too hard for us; it entails too much pain, too many disappointments, and impossible tasks. We cannot do without palliative remedies.” Unfortunately, religion is not what he had in mind when he suggested palliative remedies. In fact, he said that when a man is freed of religion, he has a better chance to live a normal and wholesome life.

Now, some people would agree with that. Since every religion imposes on its followers certain type of discipline. Some religions are more rigid than others. But many people find common sense flexibility more attractive than dogmatic rigidity.

Most sensible people carry on life the way they feel is best for them and their families, in a quite way, without making waves or hurting anybody’s feelings. After all one’s religion should be something very personal. Many people find happiness and comfort in religious activities in a quite way. And that is good. The happier you are, the healthier you feel.

Remember what George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) said, “There is only one religion, though there are a hundred versions of it.” Let us respect them all so we can do unto others what we like done to us.

Merry Christmas and a safe holiday season.

Thought for Christmas:


At Christmas play and make good cheer,
For Christmas comes but once a year.
Thomas Tusser (1524-1580)

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Parents are happy that the Christmas concerts are over.

Students are happy that schools are closed for holidays.

Businesses are happy that there will be a last minute rush to buy Christmas presents.

Mothers and may be some dads will be busy (and perhaps happy) doing their last minute baking and cooking.

Although there will be no peace on earth, there will be joy and happiness in many homes.

On the other hand, there are some families who find this time of the year very stressful and difficult.

Some families cannot afford the extravaganza of the Christmas festivities – the tradition of exchanging gifts, lavish feasting and partying.

Some cannot partake in the Christmas celebrations because they are sick, they are in pain, or are on the verge of dieing.

There are some who are lonely and sad because they have lost their loved ones since last Christmas.

But one thing good about our society is that there are so many voluntary organizations that take care of people for whom life has been unfair or difficult.

The generosity of the people who contribute to these organizations in cash and kind speaks volumes to our humanistic society. A society where so many are willing to give rather than complain about not having enough.

Just before Christmas almost everything in the city grinds down to a slow pace.

The hospital will be empty accept for the very sick. Most doctors (except those who are on-call) will get some time to spend with their families.

But the Christmas lull is be broken by the arrival of Boxing Day.

Emergency department gets busy – thanks to too much food and alcohol.

There will be patients with tummy ache, diarrhea, and vomiting – probably due to food poisoning. Some will have bowel blockage, some will have stomach and intestinal bleeding, some will have gall stone attacks, and some will have pancreatitis (due to gall stones or alcohol abuse).

Some will come with chest pain and heart attack. Some will be in heart failure. Some may get asthmatic attacks, some may get migraine.

Some will get involved in motor vehicle accidents, and some will get involved in fights.

Those who survive all this will soon recover to get ready for the New Year’s Eve bash. There will be more food and more alcohol. And then there will be a hangover and 2003 will be history!

The New Year will arrive with mail box full of bills instead of Christmas cards. And businesses will tempt you to buy more when everything goes on sale.

Isn’t this all wonderful? We go through the same cycle every year! And although people complain about it, there is no way anybody can change it. It is part of our life – just like day and night.

Am I being cynical about Christmas and New Year’s celebrations?

May be so. But as a physician I feel I should warn you (not that you didn’t already know about it) that there is a price to pay for over indulgence – especially when it comes to shopping, eating and drinking alcohol.

Believe me, I have seen it all.

Before I slowed down in my practice, for almost 10 years, during the Christmas week, I had volunteered to be the general surgeon on-call at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital (the old Medicine Hat General Hospital). It used to be a very busy round the clock seven days. What I write here is what I have seen.

So, enjoy the Christmas and the New Year’s Eve bash – but do it in moderation. Know your limit and you won’t regret it.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Don’t drink and drive. This column will be back in January, 2004- hopefully without a hangover!

Start reading the preview of my book A Doctor's Journey for free on Amazon. Available on Kindle for $2.99!