THE CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20130, 15 December 1928, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL.

WOMAN'S PARTICIPATION*i , BI EDNA GRAHAM MACKY. , Many a™ l ' ie holidays that we celotrate during the year: Empire Day, Labour Day, Dominion Day, New Yefir's Day, the King's Birthday and Good Friday. We mark with red upon our calendars tho dates associated with numerous saints:. St. Andrew, St. Patrick, St. George, St. Valentino, and various others calling f<?r tho homage and remembrance of piankind. It is, rather strange that none of these holidays hav© much significance for women, for their purposes to mark tho superior achievement, power and glory of tho so-called dominant sex. Most of our celebrations iiavo to do with political and industml matters, and Uio other holidays, having a religious air about them, liavo degenerated into an cxcuso for men to leave off Work. In marking tho birthday of our sainted heroes, no mention is over mado of the mothers, who were undoubterly the most important factors in tho situation. If it wero not for our knowledge of natural science wo would never believe that St. 'Andrew, St. Patrick and St. George ever had a mother! Of all the holidays wo celebrate, Christmas is the only one not absolutely masculine in character. Though it commemorates the Divine Man of Sorrows it enshrines woman in tho place of honour. What would our sacred stories, our Christmas tableaux., bo without the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, as the centre of interest? , On this account, women feel that Christmas is a holiday in which they may take a loading part. Is it becauso women figure so prominently in the Christmas festival that children are given a spee.al consideration? A truo woman s idea oi enjoyment, naturally, is to seo hcr_ children having a happy timo also. Women and children undoubtedly get tho most fun out of Christmas. The men folk aro chiefly concerned with signing cheques and tying up the luggage! If ever any occasion should he free of distinction with regard to financial benefits it is Christmas time. Unfortunately it is the other way about. There is no period in all tlie when tho poor feel so poor and tho rich_ feel so rich. It is a time of great contrasts. Women, in their participation of Christmas bounties, are divided into three classes—the Marys, the Marthas, and the Hagars. The Marys are those fortunate bd'ings who have luxurious gifts showered upon them, who take their blessings as a matter of course. They are the recipients of fur coats, motor-cars, diamond necklaces, from doting husbands, fathers or brothers. The Marthas are those who conscientiously toil in the _ service _of others, gaining happiness in untiring labour for their families. They are rewarded at Christmas time by little gifts from various relatives and friends; a handkechief, a box of soap, a pair of gloves, a sewing basket, and, if lucky, a gramophone, representing a communal investment. . The Hngars know very little of the ]ovs of Christmas timd. Some are too selfish to join the ranks of the Marthas and earn a small reward and not favoured enough to sharo the enviable lot of tho Marys. Their Christmas pleasure consists in what they can procure for themselves. If they have the wherewithal they bnv some new clothes and go for a trip. If they haven't anv money, they are indeed outcasts and find the Christmas season a desert of loneliness and heartbreak.