Island's resilience shines through at this time of year

FRIDAY, DEC. 23: To say that this year’s Christmas boat parade was simply spectacular barely does it justice.

The fireworks display was right up there with events like Edinburgh’s world famous ‘Hog-manay’ celebration held every New Year’s Eve.

Trust me on this because I’ve now witnessed both.

What was great about the boat parade — aside from the high standard of the Christmas-themed decorated vessels — was the strong sense of community with everyone having a fantastic time.

Christmas brings out the big kid in us all and even a group of “I’m too cool for Santa” teenage boys couldn’t contain their whoops of joy as the fireworks cascaded across the sky.

According to researchers it is this feeling of ‘wider community’ or belonging that makes people happiest.

A recent joint study carried out by Washington’s American University and Belgium’s Catholic University found that ‘civic pride’ was most linked to a general feeling of well being. 

We’re not talking here about flag waving xenophobic pride but instead ‘civic nationalism’ which is more about being inclusive as well as having a respect for a country’s institutions and laws for belonging.

It is events like the Christmas boat parade that show just how resilient this sense of community is here in Bermuda.

That resilience might take some knocks — the spate of shootings on the island and the economic downturn have certainly played their part in shaking community confidence.

But when a community has inner core strength it can withstand these setbacks and protect itself against those who try to shatter it.

National holidays and celebrations like Christmas reinforce this sense of mutual belonging by bringing people together and allowing us adults to indulge our inner child.

After all, as a grown up what other time of the year can you get away with wearing a silly red Santa hat and sporting a large plastic candy cane on your car? 

What other time of the year do you get the perfect excuse to party with your friends and family for days at a time?

Of course with the joys of Christmas come the inevitable tensions. Police and social workers are well aware of the spikes in domestic violence that can occur when too much alcohol and family rows enter the mix.

Not forgetting those who are homeless and without close friends or family.

When everyone else is out there celebrating and having a great time it can make your own problems seem insurmountable,

Then there are the people who have lost loved ones in tragic circumstances.

For those affected, Christmas can be an annual event that simply heightens their sense of loss – something to be endured rather than enjoyed and our hearts go out to them.

But for the vast majority, it is something which binds us together and gives some much needed fun at the end of the year.

In times of worldwide doom and gloom a celebration of all that is good in life is needed more than ever.

And for many this time of year also has a much deeper spiritual significance – remembering that life isn’t just all about “me, me, me”.

It is a chance for a community to give something back with initiatives like Toys for Tots and food collections for needy families. In the words of Phillip Brooks: “The earth has grown old with its burden of care, but at Christmas it is always young.”

So here’s to those twinkly lights on the palm trees and the businesses which have pulled out all the decorating stops to cheer us up.

Everyone have a brilliant Bermudian Christmas while still giving some thought to those who for one reason or another cannot do so.

Maggie Fogarty is a Royal Television Society award winning TV producer and journalist currently living in Bermuda.