CHRISTMAS ON THE MOON.

#ManOnTheMoon is the latest Christmas-related number one hashtag at the social media. If Santa Claus only knew that one day children from all around the world will be more interested in tweeting and instagraming pics of their most desired Christmas presents instead of writing him letters and sending them to the good old cold Laplandia…

Christmas is not what it used to be. Or maybe better: it’s not like it used to be. Ten years ago beautifully decorated festive shops windows and Christmas carols on the radio were more or less the only things that would bring us the Christmas mood. Today we are being bombarded by Christmas propaganda of all kinds: thousands of TV, radio and social media commercial and endless tricks to make us feel more Christmassy, or better yet, spend fortunes on unnecessary goods. Yet, very few are the Christmas adverts that are worth our attention as customer. John Lewis Stores are definitely part of that minority. It became their annual tradition to produce magical Christmas adverts that are not only commercial and beautifully made, but also carry in them a very powerful, deeply human messages.

This year’s commercial tells the story of a curious baby girl called Lily that looking at the moon through the family telescope one night experiences a fascinating finding: a lonely man on the moon.

Lily watches as he goes about his daily routine, sitting up there all alone. She becomes determined to send him a message and show him that someone down here is thinking of him and that he is being loved and cherished. And so she does. She sends him a telescope so that they could communicate, ever though not in person. This add makes us think about the essence of us as humans: social ‘animals’ that need someone to share our lives with, and also about the essence of Christmas: that time of the year when our hearts open and we are more willing to share, give and forgive.

It may be just a PR trick that is supposed to make us shop at John Lewis, but still the add doesn’t fail in warming our heart and bringing the Christmas mood, grace and love to our homes. I hope you enjoy…and shed a tear or two like I did.