The story of Jesus’ birth (Christmas) stands out as the one religious lesson of all ages. Christmas is celebrated different ways by different people. Our traditional beliefs, and Backgrounds, play a role in how we celebrate Christmas.
In Brazil, Christmas customs are similar to USA or UK. For those who have enough money, a special Christmas meal will be chicken, turkey, ham, rice, salad, pork, fresh and dried fruits, often with beer. Poorer people will have chicken, rice and beans and will also drink beer and coke.
In France, Christmas is called 'Noël. Everyone has a Christmas tree, sometimes decorated in the old way with red ribbons and real white wax candles. The Christmas meal is an important family gathering with good meat and the best wine served at table.
In Latvians believe that Father Christmas brings presents on each of the 12 days of Christmas starting on Christmas Eve. Usually the presents are put under the family Christmas tree. (What a good idea to spread Christmas out longer!) It was in Latvia that the first Christmas tree was decorated. The special Latvian Christmas Day meal is cooked brown peas with bacon (pork) sauce, small pies, cabbage and sausage. You can see more here www.soon.org.uk
In Nigeria people living in large cities travel to their different villages to visit their loved ones. It is a general return for everyone; a time to take break from work, a time to share what we have with friends we haven’t seen for long. Before Christmas, people repaint their houses and also replace any broken stuff in the house. For catholic families, a four week period of advent is observed and often parishes decorate the church with flowers and green leaves. On Christmas day, meals are served. During Christmas the African communal ways of life is in full effect.
Another factor we often tend to over look is finance. No doubt, Christmas has become too commercial; it has become more about spending money and buying things. The old meaning of Christmas has been somewhat forgotten. Yah we are encouraged in our different churches to share what we have with the poor. To share with the poor man who sleeps out in the cold just by the corner of your door, the child whose parents couldn’t buy him/her a gift, the widow with nothing for Christmas, those in prison and so on.
In my opinion, Christmas goes beyond just sharing gift or giving out gifts to people. Christmas is a time for each of us to be like a FIR TREE. The pure green color of the fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind. We must all have hope; hope that keep us moving no matter what happens, hope to make us look to God and call on him, hope to make us build a place like heaven for all on earth.
Christmas is a time for each of us to be like a brilliant STAR. the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of that promise. So God has not and will not forget his people this festive period.
Christmas is a time for each of us to be like a CANDLE. the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness. We must each seek to be light in our dark world. A light for your spouse, family, your local parish and for our world.
Christmas is a time for each of us to be like a WREATH. The wreath symbolizes the eternal nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection. Love, love, love….. Faith, hope and love, but the greatest of this is love. Love made a king became a child; love made God became man, love made it all.
Christmas is a time for each of us to be like a HOLLY LEAF. The holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent bloodshed by Him. We each must remember to pray for those in intensive care, those who lost their loved ones on this day, those hanging between life and death. It is time a pray for them.
Christmas is a time for each of us to be like a CANDY CANE and a BELL. Candy cane represents the shepherd’s crook. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother’s keeper. We must pray for peace in our world. Wouldn’t it be good to produce instruments that will help mankind instead of atomic booms, weapon of mass destruction, arms etc? The bell symbolizes guidance and return. The crook on the shepherd’s staff and the bell are for redirecting strayed sheep not for destruction.
Christmas is a time for each of us to be like an ANGEL. It was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior’s birth. The angels sang ‘Glory to God in the highest, on earth, peace and good will.’ It is time to announce that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son for mankind.
Happy Christmas!!!!!
Please if you wish to send a Christmas card to friends and family you can use the catholic e-greetings by the left hand site of our blog. The site is a catholic site run by the Franciscans. Or here are some Christmas links you may also consider.
www.Christmassprite.com
www.christmascardday.com
www.christmas-egreetings.com
www.GreetingsneCards.com
Christmas
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catholicism in africa