Christmas is Over

 

 

We attended a Christmas Day service at St. Paul's Cathedral in London, many years ago, and as soon as it finished, one of the ushers (formally called "sidesmen"), in a red waistcoat,  stood in the center aisle and began -- in a quite rude and perfunctorial way -- to shoo people out. A woman in front of us was still looking around and lingering and he bent from the waist, hands behind his back, looked down his nose, and intoned, "I am sorry, Madame...Christmas Is Over!" and then turned on his heel and strode off. We were both horrified and sort of amused by his manner, and the phrase has become one of those repeated lines in our house.

Individual Montrealers, as well as city neighborhoods responsible for the main thoroughfares and shopping streets, tend to leave their trees and lights up longer than we used to; the lights cheer us all up during the dark days of January. We took our tree down last weekend, and the house is back to normal, but I wish we'd put up outdoor lights that could be left on for a few more weeks. The city comes around and picks up the trees on certain, pre-announced days, and then chips them for mulch that's used on public gardens, and distributed to community gardens like ours. Still, I always find the discarded trees rather forlorn but photogenic, in the alleys and on the curbs.

Comments

[Duchesse]

Might there be some way for whomever is in charge of ushers to give this sideman some instruction on the meaning of the occasion, and the notion of welcoming all to worship? I truly hope so.

[Beth]

I agree, but it's probably too late now: that was back in the 1990s and I think he's probably retired from his duties. It's certainly been a lesson to us, when we've served in similar capacities!

[Roderick Robinson]

The project involving used Christmas trees is evidence of a comparatively wealthy society guided by the right priorities. A minor matter but pointing in the right direction. On the whole foreigners instinctively like Canada. True or false?

[ET]

I think of them as winter lights and keep them up as long as I want.

[Beth]

Hi ET --Good name and good idea! I'm actually thinking of putting some up, even now.

[Beth]

Roderick, you know, I think they do, but I'm not sure. Depending on where people have come from, they certainly find the winters difficult and long, but in general the country is benevolent, fairly gentle; the people friendly and kind. I can only speak about Quebec, where there are language issues on top of everything else for newcomers: almost everyone has to learn either French or English in order to function here. Navigating the governmental systems is always difficult for newcomers, too, and Canada's bureaucracy is just that. I think tourists like it but are sort of puzzled, especially if they've visited the U.S. The resemblances are there, but underneath, the countries are pretty different, with Canada being a lot less abrasive, brash, noisy, in-your-face; more polite and gentle, but also a lot more bland (some would say "boring." Quebec, being more European and weird, was a lot more attractive to us. I don't think I'd like living in Toronto or Ottawa, for instance.

[Andrea M.]

As one who lives here, I can assure you that Ottawa is quite nice. For example, you can be in Montreal in two hours. :)

[Roderick Robinson]

So, a national stereotype that works. That was my impression after two or three flying visits. Some day someone will get around to typing England and the Anglos. Cynical? Remote? Trouble is I see those as compliments.

[Relatively Retiring]

It's no real excuse, but probably the church official (I don't recognise the term 'sidesman' in this context) who was anxious to get away had been up all night preparing for the Christmas Day services. I write as one very familiar with Christmas exhaustion for church employees. But...no excuse for rudeness.

[Hattie]

So beautiful, but I really can't stand the cold any more. Too thin-blooded after living in Hawaii all these years.
That's a funny story. The usher might also have pointed out to you that there is no Santa Claus!

[Huw]

I have been to evensong at St Paul's and can assure you that the ushers were just as brusque, ushing us out before we had a chance to pause and reflect on the service. Any attempt at walking slowly and looking at the church felt like it was viewed as an attempt to evade the admission charge. Unfortunately many cathedrals and large churches have a similarly institutional and unwelcoming air. (A very notable exception is Hexham Abbey.)