Whatever one’s religious views, for those who celebrate it Christmas has always been about affirming the bonds that make us who we are. It is a moment when, consciously or not, we go back to our roots a little to nurture them with the company of those who are important to us. It’s very often a time to reflect and share on the year just gone and it’s no accident that Charles Dickens chose Christmas as the moment when Ebenezer Scrooge, the anti-hero of A Christmas Carol, is forced to acknowledge his past, paving the way for his transformation into a better person.