Fantasy Advent Day 22: Narnia's lessons on healing from Father Christmas

There are many holidays to be celebrated at this time of year. I wished friends Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah on the same day. I know people celebrating Kwanzaa. There are people who mark the Solstice as well as some who celebrate Saturnalia. My personal favorite is Universal Hours of Peace. But in The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, there are three times that people accuse the White Witch of making it "always winter and never Christmas." Let's take a look at that idea and think of how to combat it.

"It feels like Christmas."

I don't usually invoke Jim Henson alongside Aslan, but there's a great song in The Muppets Christmas Carol. This movie depicts Ebenezer Scrooge's journey from a miser who says humbug to Christmas to someone who knows how to keep it well. It is in the middle of this journey that he is shown the reality of people keeping Christmas in their hearts, no matter their circumstances. I'll quote a song from the movie:

"A cup of kindness that we share with another/A sweet reunion with a friend or a brother/In all the places you find love it feels like Christmas."

The Ghost of Christmas Present

Obviously, this article isn't just meant for people who celebrate this holiday, but it's worth taking a leaf from Charles Dickens here when we think about ways to combat the White Witch's curse.

Her magic doesn't just stop Santa from coming. It keeps us in a place where we stop growing and feel unable to change. We talked about some New Year's resolutions on Day 17. But here is what we are called to do when fighting back against helplessness.

In The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, Father Christmas gives presents that are tools and points out that "the time to use them is perhaps near at hand." One of them is a sword and shield so we can consider this an exhortation to defend and stand up for what is right.

Weapons are given to use "in great need," but supplemented with a means to call for "help of some kind." We should be on the lookout for what great needs there are and not be too slow in asking others to help us address them.

Finally, he gives one of the future rulers of Narnia a cordial to help restore someone who has been hurt. It would come in handy for all sorts of wounds, but when we've looked at great needs, let's look for ways to restore things to their rightful state.