Christmas
is a day billions of Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of Jesus
Christ. It is the greatest celebration which impacts even non Christians. It is
unique because it comes at the last week of December which ushers in the New
Year.
Christmas
celebration started in the fourth century when Christianity became the official
religion of Rome. Christmas celebration has become so popular ever since, that
those who celebrate it have given it an ugly face judging by the activities
that go with it.
Nations
all over the world express and celebrate Christmas differently. The French word
for Christmas is Noël and it came from the Latin word natalis meaning birth.
The masses of Christ, held by English evangelists in December, gave birth to
the English word "Christmas". In Europe, Christmas lasts much longer
than a day. The season stretches well over a month to fit in the many holy days
and festivities. For many Europeans, the season’s main event is Christmas Eve,
celebrated with Midnight Mass and a grand meal. Others focus more on Christmas
Day and gift-giving. The Twelve Days of Christmas start from Dec. 25 until Jan.
6, which is Epiphany, the day the Three Kings delivered their gifts. Then the memories
live on until next year.
In
France, Christmas is marked with the festival of light which is a promise of
longer days and the return of the sun. Food is at the center of Christmas
celebrations in France, even in the dead of winter. The most anticipated
culinary event of the year is Le Reveillon de Noel, the Christmas Eve feast.
Reveillon literally means an “awakening.” In a symbolic sense, the Reveillon is
a kind of spiritual and edible wake-up call.
In
America, they usher in Christmas by different kinds of decoration according to
the weather. Some form of lighting is often used on the homes and in the yards
during the holidays. There are snowmen, Santas, manger scenes, snowflakes,
reindeer, and other lighted displays in many neighborhoods. Others outline the
architectural features of their homes in lights. There is sometimes a creche
placed that represents the stable wherein the Christ child was born and has
Mary, Joseph, the Child and various animals in attendance. Christmas in America
is often a time of an extended open house with friends dropping by to bring
gifts or just to wish everyone a happy holiday. Also, various churches play an
important part in the American Christmas. There are a variety of associated
activities such as church dinners, live Nativity scenes, choir concerts,
special church services, and a fostering of the spirit of giving to the less
privileged.
Asian
countries have a smaller number of Christians compared to the rest of the
world. As a result, in many Asian
countries, Christmas has a more secular view than a religious one. Christmas
wreaths, Merry Christmas banners, colorful lights and ornaments are seen everywhere
in Asian countries during Christmas. But in most of the Asian countries
Christmas is not recognized as a public holiday, which means that the offices
as well as the schools, colleges and universities remain open.
In
Africa, been colonized by the Europeans and Americans, Christmas
celebrations are not too different from that of Europeans and Americans. It is
marked with decorations houses, Christmas trees, staging Christmas shows where
children go to see and receive gifts from Santa Claus, Christmas church
services, carol of nine lessons ministrations, preparation of different kinds of local and
intercontinental dishes, exchange of gifts etc. However, it is celebrated in a
more unique way in Liberia.
In
Liberia, there is no Santa Claus in Liberia but rather, old man beggar. He
dresses in rag like costumes and begs for gifts. People in Liberia also don’t
say Merry Christmas but rather ‘my Christmas is on you” or “my Christmas is in
your blood”. This is done to ensure that people give and share during the
festive season.
In
Nigeria, Christians all over the country celebrate Christmas but it is more
celebrated in the South East and South South part of the country. Christmas is
the season when mostly the Igbos who lives in different parts of the country
and world crave to travel to their different states and villages in the South
East and some parts of South South to celebrate Christmas with their family and
loved ones. During this season, those who have planned to travel do so with
great expectations of meeting their relations that they have not seen for a
long time. They usually travel home with lots of food stuff and gift items for
younger and elderly people in their villages or hometowns. Christmas is fun in
this part of the country as the villages organize football and dance
competitions among communities and give out trophies or cash prizes to the
winners. Christmas is also marked with masquerade festivals. These festivities
usually start from December 24 till December 31. On the other hand, on 31st
of December, Christians in Nigeria usually prefer to be in worship centres to
enter the New Year. Prayers go on until 12.00 a.m. when the shouts of New Year and
congratulations for making it into the New Year will echo from every corner.
Almost all the night of December 31 and January 1, people hardly sleep, as the
joy of the New Year drives away sleep. After the New Year celebrations, the villages
in the South Eastern part of Nigeria once again remain as it has been; scanty of
people until the next Christmas.
It
is time for people all over the world to reflect on the reasons for Christmas
celebration. We need to count the cost to know if Christmas deserves all that
waste of food in our homes, and our large boxes and wardrobe of clothes. Many
people all over the world are suffering. It will be more fun when we identify
such people; either at the home of the less privileged or around us, and show
them that Jesus Christ came for them too, by sharing what we don’t need and all
our excess possessions. Some people are homeless, hungry, some wear clothes
that can best be described as rags while some go bare footed. They are all
around us. In the spirit of our Christmas celebrations, let us give the
hopeless and helpless people reason to live to appreciate life.
Merry
Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!
Written by Olive Chinyere Amajuoyi
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