The season for giving
The season for giving
Bhavna Purswani talks to students about charity and
community-service initiatives, while Sara Saleh deplores the consumerism that surrounds the festive month.
Giving - synonymous with selflessness, the word typically evokes a picture of goodwill. However, at a time of year when festivities are aplenty the word takes on a ubiquitous presence, sometimes losing its meaning and becoming synonymous with "present" giving.
The gift of giving
Ellen J. Langer, a psychology professor at Harvard writes, "If I don't let you give me a gift then I am preventing you from experiencing the joy of engaging in all these activities. You do people a disservice by not giving them the gift of giving."
Gift exchange serves as a bonding activity for many with almost everybody looking forward to receiving something.
"We have a no-money policy in our family. Our parents make sure that we all buy gifts for each other," said Hina Raja, an active community service member and an international relations and political science major at the American University in Sharjah (AUS).
"We even exchange gifts with our nanny. It's something that brings the whole household together," she said.
Giving back to the community
With a month that has both Eid and Christmas, festive cheer is in the air. Students are taking the opportunity to give back to the community and help those in need.
"When you get something you have to give something back. We take for granted everyday things and don't realise that some people are not lucky enough to have them. When you see how poor they are you wonder how they get by," said Muhanad Alfred, finance student at the University of Wollongong, Dubai (UWOD).
"I like to help people by making them happy," said Mohammad Bin Humaidan, business administration student at AUS.
"Keeping in mind the spirit of this month one should try to extend a hand to the needy," said Elma Zaher, marketing student at UWOD and founder of the LightHouse Club.
How the season influences giving
Bringing out generosity and freedom of spirit in even the most miserly people, this season encourages giving like no other.
"People are in such a generous mood around this time," said Zaher, "If you've arranged an event around Eid or Christmas, you will definitely get more than you would otherwise."
"People today are very busy, they forget that giving is an essential part of life. It is definitely easier to get more from people during this season," said Jihad M'nasia, an active community member and mass communication and public relations student at AUS.
In a similar vein fellow community service member Bin Humaidan said, "Even 10 whole days before Eid, people are in the spirit of things. It is a really good time to encourage people to give charity to those less advantaged - like people in Sudan or Palestine - who can't celebrate as bountifully as us."
Holy Day or holiday
Many people seem to have understood the spirit behind the festivities. However, taking a closer look it seems that almost just as many have their priorities wrong.
Commercialisation of holidays is something that characterises our age. From slogans blaring for better and more expensive presents, we can be accused of almost de-sanctifying the spirit of the month.
The grandest season for shopping has consumers hurrying in crowds, panicking while compulsively reaching for presents to tick off every-growing lists. Often the spiritual significance of the event is lost.
In a survey conducted by the New American Dream show, four out of five Americans think that the holidays are too materialistic.
With statistics like these we may have to consider that the pressures of extreme shopping and gift giving have managed to overshadow the true purpose behind these spiritual days - serenity, worship and gratefulness.
So does this mean the season isn't exactly as jolly as it is meant to be?
Recently, warnings have been jarringly echoed by leading experts in family relations, who agree that sometimes, holiday consumerism can push families to breaking point, taking over everything else at Eid or Christmas.
This may lead to people eating too much and wanting to spend time with themselves instead of socialising with family and friends.
Jingle half the way?
However, taking the Ebenezer Scrooge route this festive month isn't the answer either.
Naturally, those on your gift list tell you - and them - who is important in your life. Giving presents does more than just put you in good favour with them. The act reinforces your feelings for the person -where 'giving' is as wholesome a feeling as receiving.
The important lesson taught from all religions and faiths is balance. Eid and Christmas don't have to be overdone with presents galore to show real affection. People will be more than happy with one or two carefully chosen items from the heart than a bundle of things that do not mean much.
As always, one must keep in mind the broader picture as well - it is easier giving to and receiving from those we know. The real effort is in spreading the cheer and the happiness among those we do not know - those who may not have the opportunity to the privileges we have.
Beating presents stress
Here are a few generic ideas for presents that are bound to earn you praise from both family and friends:
- Decorative ornaments: A great craft item that will keep you busy during the year. They're a permanent delight the recipient can enjoy.
- Books: You can choose a topic such as recipes and then write and present them in many forms. From card collections to folders to books with mouth-watering pictures - choices for every recipient.
- Food gifts: This is an art form taking off rapidly, and is creative and ideally thoughtful. After all, who wouldn't enjoy their favourite edible goodies in a basket to have all to themselves?
- Calendars: You can choose to do it yourself and meticulously build up one of these picture perfect ideas from scratch, or cheat by collecting favourite photos and mementos and having your local photo developer make one for you.
Either way, these personalised items will add a touch of class to any desk or wall. You can even add events on the calendar, save it on a CD and give the receiver a copy so that they can keep it updated. - Dress-up boxes: This is a sure winner with the girls! It is easy to find a plain box and paint it, add ribbons, pictures, sea shells and sequins here and there, and then fill it up with inexpensive clothing and jewellery just to make things even more interesting.
Community projects
Shoebox
Put together by students at the University of Wollongong, Dubai, (UWOD) this endeavour plans to give 165 labourers basic hygiene products like towels, toothbrushes and soap to last them a month.
"Some of us celebrate Eid and Christmas so lavishly that we forget that some people don't even have their basic needs fulfiled," said Muhanad.
They have raised enough for 150 labourers.
Lighthouse club
Based at UWOD, the club is collecting material donations for the survivors of Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh.
"When one of my teachers mentioned that commercial airlines were willing to give us 300 kilograms of free cargo I thought, we should really take advantage of this opportunity and send provisions to the disaster areas," said Zaher.
The group has collected large donations and hopes to send them off soon.
Dhaka project
Run by a part-time stewardess, this project came to life when the she travelled to Dhaka and saw the plight of the people whose homes had been damaged in the floods. The project works towards rehabilitating those who were displaced.
Students from various universities have travelled to Dhaka to lend a helping hand in the process.
"I am so proud to be part of such a wonderful initiative. I'm going to Dhaka in spring to help paint the new houses that have been constructed for flood victims," said Hina Raja, an active community service member and an international relations and political science major at the American University in Sharjah.
Personalised presents
If you have a little more time and want to delve into the more personal, these are some great ideas for the family that will save you lots of money and give you some extra holiday points with the family.
Computer Gifts Put you computer to good and indeed different use as there are a number of simple and sweet gifts that can be made from it:
- Make return address labels and customise the graphic on the label to reflect the person's interests.
- Make a set of personalised greeting cards that others can use to send out on occasions such as birthdays. Make the cards special by putting the name on the front of them.
- Using the internet, print out a "birthday sheet", compiled of all kinds of interesting things that happened on the day they were born. Framing it will make it even more special.
- Buying for younger children can be difficult and expensive. Try using a graphic programme and make colouring books, and if you have time and are feeling J.K. Rowling-like, add a story to it.
- Assemble journals and diaries for different family members. This kind of handiwork is not easy and has to be done right to be worth the trouble.
- You can take calendar making one step further by making funny or themed calendars with a new quote, recipe or joke on each page.
Non-conventional ways to spread the joy
- Magazines: Giving a one-year subscription to a magazine, which can be renewed by you for the next couple of years, will remind the person of you every time they read it.
- Office gifts: Everyone has a personal space to call their own with lots of little things to decorate and personalise it - computer paper, electric pencil sharpeners, small paper shredders, scrapbooks and fine pens.
- Handwork: Knitting small, crocheted pieces of clothing or household items make for one of the most loved gifts of the season. So aprons, sweaters and napkins are just the thing. If sewing is not your strength, you can personalise plain shirts with family pictures or consider handmade jewellery and dolls.
- Plants: This may not be the typical teen idea but lots of people are starting to go with the environment buzz and keep a little floral and greenery in their rooms, homes and offices. Use a beautiful container for elegance and remember, when it comes to plants, the smaller the better.
