Τhis project is a poem which refers to the contrasts one can observe during the Christmas season. This season is usually associated with lively and impressive decorations, much and special food, huge or expensive gifts, parties, fun and many other luxury activities. For the Christians, Jesus Christ is born -who represents Love, peace, equality. But this is not the case. Most of the time, celebrations are superficial and lacking in essence. There are still many problems in the world which need solution: hunger, violence against women, crime and punishment, war, abandonment of the poor and the sick, focus on material things instead of human values, child abuse and many others. The contrasts are really very impressive. The real meaning of Christmas is lost in extreme preparations, exhibition of wealth, and expensive activities while all we need is to focus on social problems, fraternity and equality issues. In this way, our world will get better and everyone will enjoy a good quality of life. The original poem is written in the Greek language and forms a rhyme. Through the English translation the rhyme does not exist but the same ideas are included.
The project is part of the subthemes Re-imagining identity through poetry, Healing Narratives - Poetry, Mental Health and Collective Trauma, Cultural Resilience - Literature as a force for social justice.
Author
Mandy (Diamanto) Pistikou
Mandy (Diamanto) Pistikou was born in Piraeus, Greece. A lover of Arts and Culture, she started at a very young age to write her first poems, lyrics and musical compositions, as a way to express her thoughts and feelings. She taught English for many years, specializing in children with learning difficulties and she used Art as a means of expression and teaching, She was also a member of TESOL Greece. She works as administrative staff at the National Rehabilitation Center. She recently graduated from the Hellenic Culture Department at the Hellenic Open University having won scholarships of excellence for all 4 years of her studies. She currently attends the Master's degree in 'Folklore and Literature' at the NKUA. Some of her poems or stories have been distinguished in various literary competitions. She writes in order to express her feelings and worries about various subjects while at the same time she is dreaming and striving to contribute to a better world.
