Attention shoppers! Christmas has arrived! No, not actually Christmas which is December 25th, but the bit before Christmas that tells you it’s Christmas, even though it isn’t Christmas. Confused? All you need to know is it’s the festive season (soon) and it’s time to get ready. I’m only reminding you that it’s Christmas in five weeks, in case you want to start planning what food to buy for the big day. Or what presents to buy. Or what holiday cards to buy.
Don’t worry if you’re not Christian, not a theist, not even in the country, the opportunity to buy for Christmas is open to everyone in the modern 21st century. The tsunami of encouragement to shop, shop, shop for the holidays is highly inclusive, never discriminating on race, colour or creed.
But back on the subject of getting organised for Christmas, to be honest, you may have left it too late. My favourite Christmas advert this year aired in the UK in October and told me Christmas is “just around the corner”. In fact, those adverts were glacial in their speed compared to the world famous Selfridges store that launched its Christmas department in August, a mere 141 days before the big day. You can buy 1,000 kinds of bauble and a 6ft polar bear for £1,600 (Dh9,470) (in case you want one). I bet at this very moment you are wishing you could celebrate Christmas for five months of the year, aren’t you?
The advertising that precedes Christmas is now an event in itself. John Lewis, another British department store, has created a space for itself in Christmas culture with its “must watch” seasonal advert. This year was a soppy cartoon affair about a hare waiting for its bear friend to join the Christmas day celebrations with all the other cuddly animated animals.
The release of the John Lewis commercial is now an occasion itself. After it was aired during The X-Factor programme two weeks ago, newspaper columns were filled with deep analysis of its meaning and impact. The advert was declared the hands-down winner against its major rival advertising campaign from Marks and Spencer. In 2013, an advertising war is the prelude to a British Christmas.
Yet, despite the intense cultural momentum that snowballs around Christmas in Britain, I don’t celebrate the occasion. It’s a religious thing for me, as a Muslim. But it’s hard not to feel immersed in the overwhelming emotion at this time of year.
The weather has turned cold this week, and you can see your breath freeze in the damp air. The nights are drawing in earlier and sunset is as early as four in the afternoon. Amid the golden leaves fluttering in the wind, and the frost on the grass, there is a certain romance to cuddling up at home in the warmth, crunching on the path, or simply enjoying a moment of collective joy at the office that the end of year celebration allows us to share with those around us.
The communal nature of Christmas gives everyone permission to be nicer to each other and to take a minute to connect. The same is true of other religious celebrations. Their spiritual meaning was always intended to create an impact on community, and despite accusations that religious festivals are being increasingly commercialised, the powerful community effect still remains.
People take time to be together and enjoy together in the days coming up to Christmas. Therein lies the joy of this time of year. Even for those of us who don’t mark the religious celebration, the community spirit is something we can all take part in, shopping or no shopping.
Shelina Zahra Janmohamed is the author of Love in a Headscarf and blogs at www.spirit21.co.uk
The specs: Macan Turbo
Engine: Dual synchronous electric motors
Power: 639hp
Torque: 1,130Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Touring range: 591km
Price: From Dh412,500
On sale: Deliveries start in October
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
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Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
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Boulder shooting victims
• Denny Strong, 20
• Neven Stanisic, 23
• Rikki Olds, 25
• Tralona Bartkowiak, 49
• Suzanne Fountain, 59
• Teri Leiker, 51
• Eric Talley, 51
• Kevin Mahoney, 61
• Lynn Murray, 62
• Jody Waters, 65
SERIES INFO
Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, Abu Dhabi Sunshine Series
All matches at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Test series
1st Test: Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 10 wickets
2nd Test: Wednesday, 10 March – Sunday, 14 March
Play starts at 9.30am
T20 series
1st T20I: Wednesday, 17 March
2nd T20I: Friday, 19 March
3rd T20I: Saturday, 20 March
TV
Supporters in the UAE can watch the matches on the Rabbithole channel on YouTube
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