Sir, - Come on, Nuala O'Faolain, you must be joking when you say that you actually enjoy the "eat, drink and be merry" philosophy of the New York Christmas (Magazine, December 18th)?
Nuala notes the fact that the Irish Christmas of say, 50 years ago was simpler because people could not afford to have it differently. She contends that if they could have had the razzmatazz of New York today, they would have gone for that. I wonder.
Even today there are many reflective and generous people resisting the "spend and be damned" philosophy of a greedy world and choosing a menu of quiet happiness, moderate gifting and sharing with the world of the homeless, suffering people of two-thirds of humanity. Rather than "moaning" about materialism, many people feel saddened by the superficiality and selfishness.
I guess that both philosophies will continue to exist but I feel gifted in settling for the simple style. - Yours, etc.,
Angela MacNamara, Lower Kilmacud Road, Dublin 14.