What Christina Rosetti's 'In the Bleak Midwinter' Tells Us About Christmas
Chiswick Riverside Councillor Gabriella Giles reports back on her week
Cllr Gabriella Giles. Picture: Peter Hogan
December 25, 2022
In the bleak midwinter, not so long ago.
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan; the Christmas carol written by Christina Rosetti which tells the story of the birth of Jesus Christ has been running round my head since attending the St Nicholas’ service of carols and lessons last Sunday. Apart from being a beautiful poem, the imagery of the opening sentence has felt particularly apt this year.
December can be a tricky time for many, and historically we as humans have found ways to mark the midwinter and celebrate the darkest time of the year. Way before Christianity, and the date chosen to mark the birth of the baby Jesus, celebrations at this time of year were common. The Jewish celebration of Hanukkah reminds us of this with the lighting of the menorah, which builds gradually over eight nights and is placed in a window.
Many of us now do this in our own homes, taking part in street advents, placing our Christmas trees in our front windows and more recently decorating our gardens to raise funds or awareness for special causes. I have often wondered if it’s because human nature is to see joy and light in times of darkness.
Property in Chiswick decorated for Christmas
A stable-place sufficed
The carol tells of how Mary and Joseph didn’t have a place to sleep, and how a stable was the only place for them to shelter on their arrival in Bethlehem. I can’t help but be struck by the parallels with this story and a case I encountered at surgery this week, and how for some families this midwinter is looking particularly bleak.
I met with a family facing eviction early in the new year. Never an easy topic to deal with as a councillor as we can only really act as the intermediary between the council, and offer as much emotional support as we can. The council has a process to help those who are at threat of becoming homeless, but knowing that there’s a process (that only kicks in after eviction) is very different to having the security of knowing where you will live next. Especially when the house you have been in has no heating or hot water.
The recent cold weather snap resulted in the activation of the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol, and locally, the council has encouraged us to share the below.
Extreme winter conditions pose a threat to life to anyone who is sleeping rough. If local residents and communities know someone or see anyone sleeping on the streets, there are a number of ways they can help
- Send an alert. Residents can visit www.streetlink.org.uk, and press the take action now button. They will have to register with your email address, once registered, they can fill in the details and send the alert. Alternatively residents can call Street Link on 0300 500 0914
- Find the nearest Emergency shelter using homeless.org.uk
- Contact local services - the Council’s My Independence Team is on 020 8583 3942 - between 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday or 020 8583 2222 outside office hours
- If a person seen to be rough sleeping is under 18 or appears to be in immediate danger, residents should call the Police on 999.
And while we may not be experiencing the sub-zero temperatures we experienced earlier in the month, these services are still relevant. Some of the borough’s warm spaces will still be open over the next couple of weeks, be sure to check out the list for updated operating hours.
Recycling after Christmas
It’s not all doom and gloom of course! This time of celebration is also a time for us to spend with our families, made, chosen or otherwise. Traditionally, the first day of Christmas starts on the 25th, and in the middle ages, this was the start of twelve days of parties and merriment. A tradition continued for so long, that some Puritans almost ended up cancelling Christmas when they were in the United States, and I suppose who we could now blame for the hyper-commercialisation that we now seem to emphasise at this time of year (in a very roundabout way).
With that, I’m sure that a lot of you will be entertaining, and due to the bank holidays, bin collections will be shifting, so to help you remember, here’s the updated schedule.
The Twelve Days of Christmas Travel
Well, not quite. But I’m trying to keep with a theme here! Since 18 December, SW Trains have a reduced service which will operate until January 2nd. Be sure to check the schedule when planning how you’ll get around.
Thankfully, the maintenance works on the A4 have been suspended over Christmas, and in light of the confusion in December with changes to these works due to the cold weather, I’m happy to be able to confirm that there will be no restrictions on Hartington Road or Staveley Road on these dates:
- From 7pm on Friday 23 December until 8am on 2 January 2023
- Saturday 07 January, 8am - 7pm
- Saturday 14 January, 8am – 7pm
As always, these things could be subject to change, so I would recommend you keep an eye on the council’s website.
What can I give him, poor as I am?
To go back to the Christina Rossetti poem, the final verse asks this question, which I’ve always seen as a bit of a personal challenge, not of what to bring a baby, but of how we can serve those around us.
Being able to spend time with the people we love is a real privilege, which many take for granted. The past two years have meant that for many, a solo Christmas was to be had for the first time in their lives. While some of us are now able to fully resume our P-C (Pre-Covid) traditions, this may not be the case for all.
I have always found it interesting how we will greet strangers with a “Merry Christmas” or a more generic-alli-encompassing-seasonal-greeting at this time of year, but quite happily ignore or be quick to anger at the actions of others throughout the rest of the year. At the same time, the kindness of strangers can be immense and very impactful to both the giver and receiver. This also goes for our companionship, as we age, we’re more likely to spend time on our own, so please be sure to check in on those who you may not have heard from in a while.
Christina Rossetti put it beautifully in the final lines of the poem, stating that if she had something to offer she would, but as she has nothing, she will give her heart.
Personally, I find it a moving reminder to carry all year long; our hearts, kindness, empathy don’t come at a cost, but can mean the world to those who don’t experience it on a daily basis.
With that, I wish you all a very merry Christmas (however you choose to spend it) and a peaceful, healthy and prosperous new year!
Councillor Gabriella Giles
Chiswick Riverside
Gabriella.giles@hounslow.gov.uk
07966 270823
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Thursday 12 January at 7:00 pm: Planning committee
Tuesday, 17th January at 7:00pm: Cabinet
Tuesday, 31 January at 7:30pm: Borough council
CONSERVATIVE COUNCILLOR SURGERIES
We are back to our usual routine of holding face-to-face surgeries in Chiswick and in Gunnersbury.
Chiswick: Every Saturday from 9.30am to 10.30am at Chiswick Library (the eight Conservative councillors take this surgery in turn).
Gunnersbury: First Saturday of the month from 10am to 11am at The Gunnersbury Triangle Club, Triangle Way, off The Ridgeway, W3 8LU (at least one of the Chiswick Gunnersbury ward councillors takes this surgery).
CONSERVATIVE COUNCILLORS and CONTACTS
Chiswick Gunnersbury (was Turnham Green) ward
Cllr Joanna Biddolph joanna.biddolph@hounslow.gov.uk 07976 703446
Cllr Ranjit Gill ranjit.gill@hounslow.gov.uk 07976 702956
Cllr Ron Mushiso ron.mushiso@hounslow.gov.uk 07976 702887
Chiswick Homefields ward
Cllr Jack Emsley jack.emsley@hounslow.gov.uk 07977 396017
Cllr Gerald McGregor gerald.mcgregor@hounslow.gov.uk 07866 784821
Cllr John Todd john.todd@hounslow.gov.uk 07866 784651
Chiswick Riverside ward
Cllr Peter Thompson peter.thompson@hounslow.gov.uk 07977 395810
Cllr Gabriella Giles gabriella.giles@hounslow.gov.uk 07966 270823
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