TOMORROW the Island and most of the rest of the western world begins the traditional winter break which marks the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Well, that is the theory, but as we all know, Christmas and the whole season before and after the two-day holiday is now devoted principally to conspicuous consumption and excess rather than the celebration of a religious festival. Christian belief is, manifestly, no spent force – even in today’s materialistic society – but realism demands that we acknowledge that it is no longer the dominant factor in most people’s lives.

But even if Christianity and the desire to give thanks no longer drive the spending, giving, eating and drinking that characterise this time of year, we should be at special pains not to throw out the spiritual dimension of Christmas.

This will, as a matter of course, remain central to those who profess faith, but it also affords those with no religious belief the opportunity to take stock, recognise the benefits of living in a privileged place such as Jersey, and to consider the plight of those who, here and elsewhere, are so much less fortunate.

For the majority of residents, the quality of Island life makes it easy to forget that prosperity is not distributed anything like uniformly and that, in spite of the wealth that is so evident here, a significant minority still struggles. If the old, the infirm and those on the lowest wages did not struggle, the excellent work accomplished by the Joint Christmas Appeal, and the generosity it inspires, would not be necessary.

And, as the fortunate sit down to a Christmas lunch of turkey and the other luxuries which so many of us take for granted, thoughts should also turn to other parts of the world where the privations of the masses make even Jersey’s poor appear relatively well off.

Politically, economically and socially, this world is neither stable nor anything remotely resembling ideal. But at this time of year we can at least envisage how it can be improved and how our best and most reliable instincts are able to tell us how we should like it to be.

Meanwhile, we wish all our readers a happy and peaceful Christmas.