I LOVE the Christmas season! I love whatever is in the air – the first snow, the parties, the food, hearing "O Holy Night" at the candlelight service on Christmas Eve ... people just seem to be in such a different mood, more generous and giving, nicer to each other. I will always remember walking into a Chinese shop here in Kigali and seeing Christmas trees set up about 3 weeks before Christmas. It was the first sign of Christmas I had seen, because Christmas traditions in Rwanda are pretty non-existent. You buy children sweets and little gifts but it has nothing to do with the adult world. Even at church, pastors rarely preach a Christmas sermon.
Each year my heart aches, because without Christmas, without God sending his Son Jesus as a baby ... where would we be? As a family, we are determined to enjoy the season. I know I must continue each year to make Christmas meaningful and relevant for our family here in Kigali. New this year – two Christmas carol parties – one for our Rwandan family and friends and another for other expats. I know the kids and I will enjoy preparing for them. Bring on the cookies!
Jen Kamari, Impact Rwanda
Many of the refugees served by City Connexions Winnipeg are from Burma, where the most significant cultural aspect to Christmas is Sweet December. This is a yearly Christmas celebration that is held at midnight on November 30th. Both the Karen and the Chin cultures celebrate Sweet December with a feast, music, and prayer time and then at the stroke of midnight there are loud celebrations! The celebration generally goes to 1:00 a.m. regardless of school or work the next day.
Both the African and Asian cultures look at Christmas as a group event and not an individualistic time, so group gatherings are emphasized rather than home celebrations. Gifts are not emphasized in these times. For both the African and Asian cultural groups, the emphasis is on worship, food, and games. Our family has been enriched by adding these traditions to our own.
Tim Nielsen, City Connexions Winnipeg
Most stores in Uganda didn't carry any of our typical Christmas trees, lights and ornaments. The few that did only had them available starting the week before the holiday. There was barely a shift in the pace of the culture. Traffic continued the way it always has, shopkeepers didn't change their hours, people didn't go crazy with preparation but approached Christmas the way they approach everything else: in African time.
Our Christmas in Uganda was a wonderful experience. We were hosted by our Ugandan family for a festive Christmas dinner, along with our Chinese and Japanese friends. It was beautiful as each of us shared about our various "homes" and Christmas traditions. It was very different from our usual Christmas in Canada but so enjoyable to celebrate with others from around the world.
Josiah and Sarah Bokma, Impact Uganda
A gift from our 2011 Christmas catalogue can bring hope to people in Rwanda, Winnipeg, Uganda, and other places where ITCA workers serve. Click here to choose from a list of unique items!
