Lewis on the Island of Niatirb

Since I owe my blog title to Lewis I think it is only appropriate that I occasionally pay homage to him and his great works. I was reading through some of those great works tonight and I came across an essay that I have read several times before, but it is particularly appropriate now. I think this is the first time I have ever read this particular essay during the Advent Season. He says in much more eloquent language what I was trying to say in my post last night. He writes about an island that he is familiar with called "Niatirb." He tells of the strange customs that the people of Niatirb partake in, in the middle of winter. These customs last fifty days and are in preparation for a festival that they call "Exmas."

During this time each citizen is obligated to send out to all their friends and relatives "a square piece of hard paper stamped with a picture, which in their speech is called an Exmas-card." These pieces of hard paper have pictures on them that must be a representation of the festival which no one speaks of because, as Lewis supposes, it must be a "sacred mystery." There is great hustle and bustle to take care of these Exmas-cards. Each person is greatly satisfied to find such a similar card from a friend or relative that they sent one to, but when they find one "from any to whom they have not sent, then they beat their breasts and wail and utter curses against the sender; and, having sufficiently lamented their misfortune, they put on their boots again and go out into the fog and rain and buy a card for him also."

A similar torment is caused by the exchange of gifts. This torment is worse, however because one must determine the worth of the gift each friend will send him and must in turn send a gift of equal worth. This is a time when sellers benefit for each person buys ridiculous things that they would never buy themselves (things which the sellers can't sell at any other time of the year,) whether they can afford it or not. These customs bring on such weariness that anyone visiting the city of the Niatirbians "at this season would think some great public calamity had fallen on Niatirb." The fifty days in which this takes place is called the Exmas Rush.

Lewis goes on to explain other customs of the Niatirbians such as the excessive eating and drinking that contributes to the depleted state of the people.

There are a few in Niatirb who do not celebrate this festival, but instead celebrate the festival of "Crissmas." Many rituals are done which are quite opposite to those that take place during Exmas, (even though Exmas and Crissmas are on the same day.) Lewis continues his story on the Niatirbians by repeating a discussion he has with a priest who explains the festivals of Exmas and Crissmas to him.

I shall not spoil any more of the story here, for it would be far better for you to get your hands on the book, God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics. If you would like to get your hands on my book (that is borrow it,) let me know and I would love to lend it to you. You can also buy it from Amazon buy clicking on the title of this post.

In case you didn't catch it, read Niatirb backwards. I think we may all know of similar customs of Exmas and Crissmas that take place a land called Acirema.