For Bajans It’s Two

 

 

Twelve days of Christmas

But for Bajans it’s two,

Christmas Day and its extension

Is the major view.

 

Christmas Day is gone

And so is Boxing Day,

Christmas Day and its extension

Has now passed away.

 

Boxing Day as we know

Is Christmas bank holiday

And is celebrated as Christmas

In much the same way.

 

Back in those days

When there were slaves

Boxing Day was their Christmas

And not Christmas Day.

 

 

 

Massa and his family

Celebrated on Day #1

While the leftovers were boxed

And later passed on.

 

Given to the slaves

For them to enjoy:

House slaves, field slaves and others;

All in Massa’s employ.

 

Thus, a clear example

Of the rich man’s table,

On Boxing Day, the poor received

A plenteous sample.

 

Christmas Day #2,

This day has gone also,

We turn our gaze on Old Year’s

For the final show.

 

Watching in the New

In worship or in revelry:

Giving praise and thanks to God

Or making merry.

 

 

 

No 12 days of Christmas

For Bajans, only two,

The Christmas songs will continue,

Christmas, we bid adieu.

 

Christmas lights we’ll see

Up until January 6;

A residual reminder of Christmas

Then they’ll be unfixed.

 

Taken down and stored

Till December next year

When we’ll set them up and wait

For Christmas to appear.

 

Meanwhile, this Christmas

Has now gone away:

Not twelve days but Bajans’ two

Until next year!

 

Stewart Russell © December 27, 2025

 

All o’ This Fuss

 

 

All o’ this fuss

For just one day

And in a flash before you know it,

It’s gone away.

 

Then melancholy

And mild regret

And you find yourself wishing

It hadn’t come yet.

 

All o’ this fuss

Up to Christmas Eve

And hoping on Christmas Day

For some reprieve.

 

But there is much

That needs to be done

So that those who are coming

Can have fun.

 

Family gatherings

So, food to be prepared

To feed all the hungry people

Gathering there.

 

There in one place

Maybe the family home;

That place everyone returns to

After they are grown.

 

 

 

All o’ this fuss

To make others happy

And before Christmas Day is over

You’re tired and sleepy.

 

Next day you reflect

On all o’ the fuss

And wonder, is it really worth it;

All o’ this fuss?

 

What are the lessons

That we never learn?

All o’ this fuss for Christmas Day;

So much energy burned.

 

Near misses aplenty

And bumper collisions,

Excessive road rage situations

Without contrition.

 

In a long line

At the cash register

And it’s just before closing time,

With foot blisters.

 

Wishing to rest them

After all o’ the fuss

And already futilely regretting

All o’ this rush.

 

 

 

But you and I know

Repeat is inevitable

And come this time the next year,

Same trouble.

 

Yes, all o’ this fuss

Is absolutely cultural

And especially for the women,

It is natural.

 

Well, as for yours truly,

I am too old for this

Even though when the day passes

It is severely missed.

 

 

 

I must confess

It is my favourite time

And the count-down to Christmas

Occupies my mind.

 

But I can enjoy it

Minus all o’ this fuss

And I try as much as wifey allows

To avoid the rush.

 

 

 

All o’ this fuss

For just one day

And in a flash before you know it,

It’s gone away.

 

Stewart Russell © December 23, 2025