Merry Christmas

The countdown is on.

Soon – once the kids are in bed – the jolly fat man will start his worldwide ride.

My son has regularly reminded me this morning of how many hours there are until Christmas Day.

The carols are on in our house (I shop online almost exclusively, so the shopping centre muzak hasn’t ruined that for me).

Tonight, our family will sit down and watch Carols by Candlelight together… after coming home from a Christmas Eve screening of Die Hard at our local cinema.

(Yes. It is. Case closed. IYKYK)*

The only thing I can’t abide (much to the chagrin of some of my colleagues) is Mariah on repeat.

And yet, even that, plus all of the other things, tell us that it’s Christmas time.

It is, as the song goes, the most wonderful time of the year.

Sure, a little more wonderful in 2025 given we’ve already wrapped up The Ashes, but it’s wonderful every year.

The thing is, it’s not wonderful, by itself. There’s nothing magical about the date, or the time of year (singing ‘White Christmas’ in summer tells us a much!).

For some, it’s magical because of what it represents, religiously.

For most, these days, it’s because of what Christmas represents, more secularly.

It’s a generally warm, lazy time of year. The kids are off school, work tends to wind down a little (and a lot of us head off on holidays), the days are longer, the newspapers get thinner, and we make time to see family and friends.

Now, I’m not going to pretend to be an expert on what Christmas means to different people, but I reckon ‘peace and goodwill’ is pretty high on the list, even if we don’t consciously use those words.

We find time to see people. We wish a Merry Christmas to friends and strangers alike, and we smile more, even through the shopping crush.

It’s all voluntary (except the muzak!) of course – but in that lies its beauty.

Whether you’re religious or not, there is something communal about Christmas that we can all choose to share in, and the vast, vast bulk of us do.

You know by now that I’m an inveterate optimist. I was just born and raised that way, but I also think it’s – despite the world’s imperfections – the best way to be, because optimists win. Why? Because things get better, over time.

And because people are overwhelmingly good, and true, and positive. Because we are social animals who value community, and who want the best for others.

Everyone? No. All the time? No.

But overwhelmingly, and almost all the time. It brings out our best, and for a time, reminds us of how much better we can be.

I am conscious that I write those words after a horrific terror attack at Bondi Beach. It was an atrocity committed as an act of hatred against people simply because of their religion and culture. And one that happened at one of Australia’s most iconic places.

It was an attack directly on Jewish Australians, and indirectly on all of us who value the things I just mentioned.

Their friends and families will be in all of our thoughts as we sit around our tables, this Christmas. May their memories be a blessing.

I’m also mindful that Christmas has its modern origins in Christianity, as I mentioned above, and that other religions either don’t recognise it, or have their own celebrations at this time of year.

I hope and believe that modern Australia has room for those differences, observed peacefully and with the goodwill I mentioned.

Indeed, from experience, those of different faiths are usually more than happy to engage in what we know as the Christmas spirit, even if the observance of the event itself is different for them.

Because, as I said, Christmas is now as much a time of year, and a mindset, as it is a religious observance.

And, as I do each year, I want to specifically mention two groups. First, those who will do it tough this Christmas. Perhaps you’ll be spending Christmas alone, or you’ll have an empty chair at your table, having lost someone this year. I hope Christmas isn’t too hard for you, and that your memories and interactions with others will carry you through.

And to those working this Christmas, so we can take some time off, thank you. Particularly to those who will be away from family, including our defence forces. To those who will be keeping us safe in the emergency services and health system. And to those who are keeping the country’s wheels turning: essential services, retail and lots more. Thank you.

And so, whatever your faith, creed, or traditions at this time of year, the whole team here at The Motley Fool wishes you a very Merry Christmas. We hope you find peace and joy.

Oh, you expected something investing-related? It’s Christmas! Normal service will resume soon.

I will leave you, though, with another Motley Fool Australia tradition: our Foolish Christmas Carol… somewhere between a cringey Dad Joke and a lighthearted way to say thanks, and share an investing idea or two.

Enjoy! (Or just stop reading now. It’s on you if you keep scrolling though!)

Frosty The (Investing) Snowman

Frosty the snowman was a kind investing soul

With portfolio full of well-picked stocks

His snowball was on a roll

Long term investing’s not a fairy tale they say

Build it strong and slow ‘cos the children know

You won’t make it in a day

There must have been some magic in

That jester’s cap they found

For when they placed it on his head

Buffett quotes they did abound

Frosty the snowman was relaxed as he could be

And the children say the course he could stay

Though the volatility

Frosty the snowman knew that stocks get hot some day

So he said don’t run losing cash ain’t fun

If it’s hype just stay away

Down to the village with a checklist in his hand

Looking here and there all around the square

For ideas to add as planned

He led them down the streets of town

To every store and shop

He was looking out for scuttlebutt

To help him add and chop

Frosty the snowman kept investing just this way:

Buying quality, be long term, low fees

Compounding will win the day

Thumpety-thump-thump

Thumpety-thump-thump

Look at Frosty go

Thumpety-thump-thump

Thumpety-thump-thump

That how his wealth will grow

Merry Christmas!

* The question of whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie is asked every year – usually by media outlets desperate to fill some column inches or airtime minutes when there’s not much other news – but yes, it clearly is a Christmas movie, because John McClane does his thing at a Christmas party. Oh, and if you’re wondering, ‘IYKYK’ is ‘if you know, you know’.

Fool on, merrily!

The post Merry Christmas appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Scott Phillips has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.