Every year we receive thousands of cards, emails and messages of good wishes for the holidays, and like our usual mail bag, they range from funny and cheery to sometimes a sad reminder. This holiday we share a taste from the wonderful diversity of our listeners and readers.

It is impossible to count the number of simple wishes for a good holiday and New Year, and we thank you all for taking the time to think of us. Sometimes the wishes are simple and elegant, such as this one sent in by Jenny & Lindsay:

"To one and all, just wishing you the best Christmas ever, together with a happy and prosperous New Year. Thanks for keeping us "in the loop" so to speak. The continued contact is important to us."

We often get stories about how the contact and information we provide gives people a feeling of not being alone, of being connected to the world and its events. The following listener wanted to share his story of how important RNW is to him. 

Mani Sankar wrote [edited for space]:

"Happy Christmas and Happy New Year 2010 wishes to you and your staff. On the 30th August, 2009 I met a major accident with a motorcycle in West Bengal, India. I was released from the hospital after several hours and sent home with instructions to stay in bed for a 90 days.

"In these days, my nearest friend is your radio station. I enjoy all your shows but, in particular, your news shows. I like to hear what’s going on in other parts of the world. Your programs have become a part of my life. I look forward to more of it in the future. Keep up the good work."

We promise to continue to do our best for our listeners and readers, and continue to learn and grow with them. So, somehow, it seemed fitting to include here this new twist on an old thought, such as the following sent in by Rowney Marshal, who wrote:

"Seasonal decorations and warm wintry wishes"

You can almost feel the snow, see the tree and smell the open fire, but as our next listener reminds us, these are very western images. Anil Tamrakar sent us a whole feast to share, from his vision of an Algerian Christmas [edited for space]:

"Here in Algeria we don't decorate the rooms like in Europe, we just decorate the dinner table. The scenes of the fir trees, baubles, candy canes, wrapped gifts, stockings and Santa Claus does not exist here. But in my heart, I see the evergreen Christmas tree to be symbolic of everlasting life. I dream that one day I can hear the church bells."

… to this joke:

“If one night a big fat man jumps in at your window, grabs you and puts you in a sack don’t worry, I told Santa I wanted you for CHRISTMAS.....”

… to his mother's amazing recipe for a sweet meat traditional Algerian Christmas dish [edited]: 

"1 kilo of lamb or beef shoulder
2 medium onions, chopped fine
Salt, black and white pepper, teaspoon cinnamon, ginger, saffron, 3 tablespoons honey
Half a kilo of dried peaches or plums, same amount of dried apricots

Put the onions in a pot with 5 tablespoons vegetable oil and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the meat and spices; ginger lightly chopped, saffron soaked in a little warm water. Continue to cook to allow the meat to absorb the spices, and then add about half a litre of water and leave on medium heat for an hour. In a separate pot, boil the dried fruit, honey and cinnamon in three cups of the meat broth, also for an hour. Put the meat in the dish first, with the fruit and sauce poured over it."

Anil assures us this is a perfect Christmas dish, and it sounds it. We hope his mother doesn't mind sharing her recipe with all of us. Now, regardless of whether the holiday season is all sparkling with snow and presents under a tree, or a delicious feast of meat and fruit, for many of us it is about being with our friends and family.

For some of us, that is not possible, and the following mail is a good reminder that many of us around the globe will not be celebrating, and have endured more than most of us could ever imagine. Mariama Edy Jalloh wrote [edited]:

"I am now 19 years of age, born and bred in Sierra Leone. I have lost most of my family during the senseless brutal rebel war in my country. My father and my sister were killed. Mum gave birth to me and died. I am full of pain and tears. Our house was burnt one evening as we returned home from the farm. As a young girl we were made slaves to carry loads for the rebels and to be their mistresses at night. I was taken to Liberia. I eventually was able to escape after years of torture and slave sex in the hand of the rebels.

"When the war in Liberia came to a halt, I tried to enter Sierra Leone but I was not allowed. I entered Guinea where I found my elder brother and sister. We all travelled to Sierra Leone as refugees and settled at Jembe Camp. Going back to my village is a big question simply because there will be too much trauma for me. As a woman I would have no right to lay claim to my father’s properties which is now run by people who were rebel leaders. The government has no idea or control over what happens in the village.

"I long to tell my story but is my story different? One of lost childhood-one of poverty-one without hope-one of abuse and neglect. But, it is against this setback, I have written."

Mariama, it is very hard to know what to say. We thank you for your bravery in sharing your story, which, as you say is one too often heard. It is important to be reminded, and given perspective, in this time of seasonal excess and we cannot thank you enough for doing that. Our hearts and best wishes go out to your and your brother and sister, and hope that the New Year will bring a better life for you all.

And finally, after the sadness, it is important to have hope for the future. One of our listeners wanted to thank us with this poem and share it with all radio enthusiasts, looking forward to the New Year. Ferhat Bezazel wrote:

“Happy New Year To You my radio
Happy New Year to you my lovely radio
May every great new day is in happiness in every year
Bring you sweet surprises as the joyful feeling every time
A happiness buffet for the whole year
Happy New Year to you my lovely radio

"Looking back on the months gone by happiness
As a new year starts and an old one ends,
We contemplate what brought us joy,
And we think of our loved ones and our friends.
Recalling all the happy times,
Remembering how they enriched our lives,
We reflect upon who really counts,
As the fresh and bright new year arrives.”

In this holiday season for some, we send our own best wishes and hopes for a wonderful New Year.