Celebrating Christmas Across Nations

The joy of the gift of God’s Son at Christmas is celebrated in wonderfully different ways by cultures across the globe. Here are some stories of how our partners will celebrate this year - in Fiji, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Vanuatu and Vietnam!

 

 

Christmas in Fiji is a lively celebration for all irrespective of religious background. Everyone looks forward to Christmas, saving money to spend lavishly on food and parties. Lighting and decorations in the homes and churches provide a brilliant display and people take time to go out especially on Christmas Eve to view them.

 

The week before Christmas churches are busy preparing for special services with music, singing, dramas and dance. Churches of Christ have a combined service of all the churches. This is a special time when people get to meet each other, have family reunions and fellowship over a special Christmas dinner.

 

Bhimrao Thavare reports, “The message of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, is remembered and celebrated by all though few people know the real meaning of Christmas. It’s always been a challenge to convey the importance and true meaning of Christmas. We take this opportunity to share Jesus Christ during this season by writing articles for the newspaper, sharing radio messages and sometimes television programmes. Our prayer is that the efforts of all the churches and Christian believers may be answered this Christmas by attracting many people to the Saviour by word and deed.” 

 

 

The children at Khayelihle Children’s Village (KCV) are now on holidays and eagerly looking forward to celebrating Christmas. At this time of year lots of visitors come to spend time with them. They enjoy playing games, sharing songs and Christmas treats.

 

The KCV kids begin to decorate their houses from mid-December with balloons, a Christmas tree and bright decorations. They enjoy adding the colourful finishing touches to their homes.

 

During the Christmas week, they’ll share special food for the occasion, some of which is donated especially for Christmas. Evening devotions include singing carols and sharing stories of the first Christmas. Jabulani Xaba, KCV Director, reports, “It is a very exciting time for us as we gather as families and spend time together. On Christmas day, one of the children dresses as Father Christmas and presents gifts to the other family members. They then proceed to have a big breakfast and open their presents.”

 

Elton Sidodah, Chaplain at KCV adds, “On the day children will be dressed in their best attire, go to church, sing Christmas carols and enjoy some dramas about Christmas. After church the kids are treated to a variety of food, then sing and dance, or watch a movie. They play games, dance to music and have fun on this special day.”

 

 

Christmas in the Bawm Community in Bangladesh is celebrated over three days from the 24th - 26th December. The day is observed with joy. Non-Christian families are invited to come and share the Christmas festivities. Christmas in Bengali is known as “BORO DIN” which means ‘big day’.

 

The youth take responsibility to decorate the church building very colourfully both inside and out. Everyone in the village gathers together in one house to sing carols and Gospel songs together accompanied by drums, harmonium and guitar.

 

Vana Bawm reports, “On 25th December it’s an early morning start. From 4:30 am people begin to move from house to house singing Christmas carols. Every house has prepared Christmas treats, such as cookies, tea, semay fruits and special rice with coconut, and exchanges Christmas greetings. The food is eaten together in front of the house and the children run back and forth joining in the street rally. When the whole village is covered we all return to the church building and the street rally ends with prayer.”

 

The Christian Church Theological School of Indonesia (CCTSI) in Salatiga, Central Java, celebrates Christmas together with all the students since it coincides with the end of semester. The theological students are commissioned before being sent out into the rural communities for ministry. This includes working in the fields with people in the villages. Some go to other islands including Papua, Mentawai (west coast Sumatra) and west Java to serve among the unreached people groups.

 

CCTSI Academic Dean, Hery Susanto, reports, “Christmas songs are often sung with tears. It is a sacrificial ministry bringing people to Christ and sharing the good news. Our theme for Christmas this year is ‘From Darkness to Light’. Christmas is coming and our prayer is to be a blessing for the community.”

 

 

Christmas celebrations in local churches begin with carol singing on the Sunday before Christmas. This service also includes the re-enactment of the birth of Jesus. Preparations for these dramas have usually been in progress for weeks and even months.

 

On the 25^th December, typically the whole community shares a combined special breakfast together, with music and singing reflecting the birth of Christ, and the presenting of gifts to children and exchanging gifts between adults and youth.

 

The breakfast is followed by a worship service which is full of joy and gladness. Then a special lunch is shared together with all the families preparing food for the combined meal.

Dinner is another shared meal for everyone. The evening program that follows includes singing by different groups and is usually associated with powder perfuming the air.

 

In some areas, carol singing by different groups will go on for a week, with every evening going through until midnight or even until morning. Secretary General, Samuel Vusi reports, “Christmas among Vanuatu Christians is the singing of carols and music, because they tell of the birth of Jesus. It is a time of great joy.”

 

 

John Dean reports, “Christmas in Vietnam, as in most countries around the world is a joyous time, though unfortunately many celebrate for the wrong reasons. Basically a non-Christian country, Vietnam celebrates Santa Claus primarily for commercial reasons.

 

“Christmas begins in the first week of December with the big stores putting up huge street displays. Many Catholics put up a nativity scene and illuminate it with Christmas lights. In the week before Christmas day, Vietnamese will visit family, relatives and friends with gifts. On Christmas Eve most of the city’s population travel to the city centre to celebrate, many dressed in Santa suits. Then on Christmas day, it’s back to work as normal unless you are a Christian. Churches hold services on Christmas day. Pray for all those around the world who don’t know or refuse to accept the real ‘reason for the season'.”