Wednesday 24 December 2003

Pic of the day: "Reading, pictures, days of peace and quiet." Picture from inspirational anime Bottle Fairy, episode 9: "December".

Ordinary day

It is strange to look at the calendar and see December 24th. For most of my life this was a magical day: Christmas Eve.

Of course, for most people it has always been an ordinary day. Jews don't celebrate Christmas, nor do Muslims or Hindus, Buddhists or (at least until recently) Shintoists. And in Christendom, it is not uncommon that Christmas starts on the 25th, on Christmas day. But not here.

In Norway, the Eve is the most Christmassy of Christmas. Churches are full, then people go home and eat weird food that is traditional, and often drink to excess as well. Then they open boxes, rather than waiting till boxing day like the English do. Children are supposed to be very eager for this day, probably because of the gifts. Santa Claus does not have the same widespread acceptance here, it is common that even children get presents from family members rather than from Santa. This does not in any way lessen the children's expectations, interestingly enough.

***

But this year, there is nothing magical about December 24th. It is a gray, rainy day when the shops close early. One nice thing is that there are fewer people logged on Dark Age of Camelot, so my favorite spots are not as camped as usual. I kill many plated fiends this day. And I also get time to play The Sims a bit. The Sims are making magic. But for me it's just another evening. I don't turn on the radio to listen to Christmas songs and all the traditional entertainment. I am sure it is important to many people. They feel that for a short time, they are lifted out of dreary Mundania and into a magic kingdom they vaguely remember from their childhood. Or at least they try.

But I won't cry for yesterday,
there's an ordinary world somehow I have to find;
and as I try to make my way to the ordinary world,
I will learn to survive ...

(Duran Duran: Ordinary world)

Oh, yes. I may have mentioned this ... I learned about this song from my best friend, SuperGirl as I called her back then. She played it over and over on the stereo while I was there. This was a short while after they had left the congregation where I first met them. I guess I also left, only less eagerly. And now I'm leaving again, or (as can be argued the last time too) staying behind when others are moving on. But always, the change has happened inside first. The outer change only reveals the inner change.