Page 21 - 200912 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - December 2009

21 Christmas Around the World 21 Christmas Around the World Christmas in Africa up and down the streets singing Christmas ground or on dry grass and eating meatless Christmas in Africa Carols and shouting "Christ is coming, Christ is food. There were 7 or 12 meals: wine, Rakia , Preparation for Christmas in the Congo coming! He is near!" in their language. In the sarmy and so on. There always was a huge begins when some group is designated to evening, people flock to churches which have round bread where all the cattle, the house and prepare the annual Christmas pageant. been decorated with Christmas evergreens or things like that were carved. Christmas day begins with groups of palm trees massed with candles. Hymns are Bulgarians make Christmas wishes carolers walking to and fro through the village, sung and Nativity plays are presented. around the fire and eat blood sausage. along the roadway, by the houses of the On Christmas Day, children and older missionaries, singing the lovely carols known people, representing the angels in the fields Christmas in China the world around. Often people may be outside Bethlehem, go from house to house awakened by a group of carolers beginning to singing. Another church service is held where The Christian children of China converge on the house of worship. They return they dress in their native attire or Western decorate trees with colorful ornaments. These home to make final preparation as to the clothes costumes. Later on there is a feast of rice and ornaments are made from paper in the shapes of one must wear and also as to his offering for the yam paste called fufu with stew or okra soup, flowers, chains and lanterns. They also hang Christmas service. porridge and meats. Families eat together or muslin stockings hoping that Christmas Old The most important part of their with close neighbors, and presents are given. Man will fill them with gifts and treats. Christmas worship service is the love offering, On the west coast of Africa, in Liberia, The Chinese Christmas trees are called this is the gift in honor of Jesus. Then at about 8 most homes have an oil palm for a Christmas "Trees of Light." Santa Claus is called Dun Che or 9 o'clock everyone makes their way to the tree, which is decorated with bells. On Lao Ren which means "Christmas Old Man.". celebration of the birthday of Jesus. Christmas morning, people are woken up by The non-Christian Chinese call this Everyone who attends the service goes carols. Presents such as cotton cloth, soap, season the Spring Festival and celebrate with forward to lay down their gift upon the raised sweets, pencils, and books are exchanged. Also many festivities that include delicious meals platform near the Communion table. Not one in the morning a church service is held in which and pay respects to their ancestors. The children person will attend the service without giving a the Christmas scene is enacted and hymns and are the main focus of these celebrations, they gift. carols are sung. Dinner is eaten outdoors with receive new clothes and toys, eat delectable Now people have Christmas dinners everyone sitting in a circle to share the meal of food and watch firecrackers displays. after the service, preparing tables out in front of rice, beef and biscuits. Games are played in the their home and inviting many of their intimate afternoon, and at night fireworks light up the Christmas in Egypt friends to share. sky. Christmas in South Africa is a summer The Coptic Church is an Orthodox Christmas in Bethlehem holiday. In December, the southern summer Christmas in Bethlehem Church and in the Coptic Church Christmas is brings glorious days of sunshine that carry an celebrated on the 7th January. Advent is irresistible invitation to the beaches, the rivers, In Bethlehem the town where Jesus is observed for forty days and during this period and the shaded mountain slopes. Then the South said to have been born is the site of the Church people are expected to fast eating no meat, African holiday season reaches its height. of the Nativity, which is ablaze with flags and poultry or dairy products. Some people only do Schools are closed, and camping is the order of decorations on every Christmas. On Christmas this during the last week of Advent. the day. In South Africa there is no snow, but it Eve natives and visitors alike crowd the On the Eve of Christmas everyone goes has many flowers, many beautiful varieties of church's doorways and stand on the roof to to church wearing a completely new outfit. The cultivated and wild flowers being in their full watch for the dramatic annual procession. Christmas service ends at midnight with the pride. Galloping horsemen and police mounted on ringing of church bells, then people go home to In the cities and towns carolers make Arabian horses lead the parade. They are eat a special Christmas meal known as fata, their rounds on Christmas Eve. Church services followed by solitary horseman carrying a cross which consists of bread, rice, garlic and boiled are held on Christmas morning. Christmas Eve and sitting astride a coal-black steed, then meat. celebrations in larger centers include "Carols by comes the churchmen and government officials. On Christmas morning people in Egypt Candlelight" and special screen and floor The procession solemnly enters the doors and visit friends and neighbors. They take with them shows. places an ancient effigy of the Holy Child in the kaik which is a type of shortbread, which they Homes are decorated with pine Church. Deep winding stairs lead to a grotto take with them to give to the people they visit branches, and all have the decorated Christmas where visitors find a silver star marking the site and eaten with a drink known as shortbat. fir in a corner, with presents for the children of the birth of Jesus. Christmas Day is a public holiday for around. At bedtime on Christmas Eve, children Christian homes in Bethlehem are Christians. may also hang up their stockings for presents marked by a cross painted over the door and from Father Christmas. each home displays a homemade manger scene. Christmas in Ethiopia Many South Africans have a Christmas A star is set up on a pole in the village square. dinner in the open-air lunch. For many more, it The Ethiopian Christmas known as Ganna is is the traditional dinner of either turkey, roast Christmas in Bulgaria celebrated on January 7th. This celebration beef, mince pies, or suckling pig, yellow rice takes place in ancient churches carved from with raisins, vegetables, and plum pudding, Christmas Eve is as important as solid volcanic rock and also in modern churches crackers, paper hats, and all. In the afternoon, Christmas day in Bulgaria. A special diner, that are designed in three concentric circles. families go out into the country and usually consisting of at least twelve dishes is prepared. Men and boys sit separately from girls and there are games or bathing in the warm All of them are without meat and each of them women. Also the choir sings from the outside sunshine, and then home in the cool of the represents a separate month of the year. The circle. evening. Boxing Day is also a proclaimed dishes consist of beans, different kinds of nuts, People receive candles as they enter the public holiday usually spent in the open air. It dried plums, cakes, and the traditional Banitza. church. After lighting the candles everyone falls on December 26 and is a day of real On this day the whole family gathers, eat on walks around the church three times, then relaxation. straw and get off the table in the same time. stands throughout the mass, which may last up In Ghana, on Africa's west coast, most In the past Christmas was celebrated to three hours. churches herald the coming of Christmas by differently. There were boys and non-married Food served at Christmas usually decorating the church and homes beginning young men who were visiting the houses, includes injera, a sourdough pancake like bread. with the first week in Advent, four weeks before singing songs for wealth and health for the Injera serves as both plate and fork. Doro wat, a Christmas. This season happens to coincide hosts. They were rewarded with money, food spicy chicken stew might be the main meal. A with the cocoa harvest, so it is a time of wealth. and so on. They were bringing long sticks to put piece of the injera is used to scoop up the wat. Everyone returns home from wherever they kravai which are round breads with holes in Baskets decorated beautifully are used to serve might be such as farms or mines. them. They were called Rkoledaris. In the the wat. (Continued on Page 24) On the eve of Christmas, children march houses the families gathered sitting on the