Thank you for some insightful comments about Christmas. As a US citizen, I completely agree with you that Christmas has become a commercial event lasting a month or more rather than a day set aside in Christianity to celebrate a miracle. Of course, much of this change has come about because of advertising and other pressure to spend, spend, spend.

Much better, in my country, I believe, would be a greater focus on the true gifts of Christmas, love, peace, hope and joy; and also more effort to give to others from whom we have no expectation of receiving a gift in return.

As a one-time visitor to Ghana, I am sad to hear that some Ghanaians are trying to adopt a Western version of Christmas. You make a good point that more effort should be made to understand and appreciate the celebrations of the different wonderful ethnic groups of Ghana. My hope would be that Ghanaian Christians would create their own Christmas traditions incorporating the wonderful sights, sounds, tastes and smells of Ghana rather than trying to imitate what Christmas means to those of us from the temperate climates. There's a reason we in the US associate Christmas with evergreen trees, snow and "chestnuts roasting on an open fire"--that's what it's like here this time of year! So, Ghanaians, please take pride in the diversity and beauty of your own culture and country. Celebrate Christ's birth if that is your belief, but celebrate in true Ghanaian tradition. Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year! Jeannette