Download atw_b

Christmas in Bethlehem
No matter where you are, when christmas time rolls
around, you start to think about parts of the season.
One of the first things that comes to mind is a little
boy being born in a stable in a little town called
Bethlehem. The whole world celebrates what
happened in Bethlehem 2000 years ago, but how does
Bethlehem celebrate christmas?
Today on the site where most people believe Christ was born, there is the Church of
the Nativity. It is adorned with flags and decorations every year around Christmas.
Every year on Christmas Eve, there is a dramatic processional which all the natives
watch from their doorways or rooftops. This processional consists of a lot of things.
First, there are horsemen and police followed by a lone horseman who carries a cross
on a solid black horse. Lastly come the churchmen and some government officials.
They all solemnly enter the doors of the church and place a effigy of the Christ child
in the church. There is a flight of deep winding stairs that lead to a grotto to where
you can find a silver star that marks the site of Jesus's birth.
The christian homes in Bethlehem are marked by a cross that is painted on the top of
each home. Each home has their own homemade manger scene. A star is also set up
on a pole in the village square.
Christmas in
THE MIDDLE EAST
While the predominant religions of the Middle East are Moslem and Hindu, there are a
fair number of Christians who celebrate Christmas in their own ways, combining the
Christian customs with those of their own country's religion.
Bethlehem:
The little town where Jesus is said to have been born is the site of the Church of the Nativity,
which is ablaze with flags and decorations every Christmas. On Christmas Eve natives and
visitors alike crowd the church's doorways and stand on the roof to watch for the dramatic
annual procession. Galloping horsemen and police mounted on Arabian horses lead the parade.
They are followed by solitary horseman carrying a cross and sitting astride a coal-black steed.
Then come the churchmen and government officials. The procession solemnly enters the doors
and places an ancient effigy of the Holy Child in the church. Deep winding stairs lead to a grotto
where visitors find a silver star marking the site of the birth of Jesus.
Christian homes in Bethlehem are marked by a cross painted over the door and each home
displays a homemade manger scene. A star is set up on a pole in the village square.
Iran:
Iran, formerly Persia, is the land where the Three Wise men are believed to have lived when
Jesus was born. Today Christians in Iran begin fasting from animal products on December 1.
This is called "Little Fast." "Big Fast" occurs during Lent, the six weeks preceding Easter. After
Church service of December 25 they enjoy Christmas dinner which they call "Little Feast." A
traditional dish is a chicken stew called harasa. Gifts are generally not exchanged but children
get new clothes which they wear proudly on Christmas Day.
Iraq:
On Christmas Eve, Iraqi Christian families gather together and one of the children read about
the birth of Jesus while other family members hold lighted candles. Afterward the reading, a
bonfire of thorn bushes is let and everyone sings. If the thorns burn to ashes, good luck will be
granted for the coming year. When the fire dies, each person jumps over the ashes three times
and makes a wish.
On Christmas Day another bonfire is lit in the churchyard. The bishop, carrying a figure of the
Baby Jesus leads the service. Afterwards he blesses one person with a touch. That person
touches the person next to him or her and the touch is passed around until all present have felt
the "touch of peace."
Christians in Iraq celebrate the Christmas season much like Christians where I'm
from. Around Christian parts in Iraq, Jesus Christ worshiping folk take part in the
read ing of birth of Christ, our Savior, in addition to attending religious services. Once
the religious service is completed the religious traditions continue when a religious
official touches members of the congregation. The "touched person" places there
hands on another person, until all are "touched." This "touch" is commonly refered to
as the "touch of peace."
The fun doesn't stop there, oh no, rather the real pyrotechnics begin. The evenings
festivities end with the construction of large bonfires. People watch these large blazes
of Christmas until they go out. ONce the flames have died down, everyone present
jumps into the ashes. This is not the safest means of celebrating Christmas, but to
each his own. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Dear Bill,
Until this year I taught middle school social studies and
Bible for 13
years, so your comment on ecouraging "global thinking and the
gospel" is
well received. I encourage you - as we both know it can be
an uphill
battle. First hand experiences and contact is the key.
Christmas here in
Costa Rica?
(we leave here Fri. for the Dominican Republic which is
actually our country
of service, so your prayers for that transition would be
appreciated. We
are learning Spanish here)
1. Every year Christmas here becomes more like the U.S. We
are see lights
on houses, in windows, Santa decorations, store displays
started in early
Oct., etc.
It is in part media driven and in part a result
of much
interaction of the population with gringos and the U.S. Your
class can
debate the pros and cons of this "cultural exportation".
2. Christmas trees are popular. Since Costa Rica has plenty
mountains and
the plateau we live in is elevated - cypress and other
evergreens flourish
here. December is windy and marks the end of rainy season.
Days are clear
and ave. temp. here in San José will average around 60-75
degress F. On the
coasts in the 80's.
3. Tamales are a Christmas tradition here as well as
empenadas. The class
can research what those are. It is quite a project to make
them, but they
are delicious.
4. Manger scenes in houses are big - sometimes filling the
whole living room.
5. Different towns have different traditions - near here in
Zapote (a part
of greater San José) there will be a sort of rodeo and "bull
run" that draws
thousands.
6. By law in Costa Rica all employers must pay "aguinaldo"
to their
employees on or near the 1st of December. This amounts to
about 1/12th of a
years pay - so most people are flush with money for the season
if they're
working. Nice "Christmas bonus" eh? Keep in mind wages are
low here by
comparison, but even our empleada (maid) received about $300
from us last week.
7. There is debate here in Evangelical and Catholic circles
both about the
commercialization of Christmas and "not losing the meaning
of Christmas".
Same as U.S.
8.
Gifts are common - though often more practical in nature.
9. Christmas vacation in schools takes on new meaning as this
is the start
of summer here. Schools got out around Dec. 10 and won't
start again until
March.
10. It's coffee harvesting season here as well and many kids
and families
will be combing the mountainside fincas harvesting coffee
berries by hand sometimes on almost vertical hillsides.
11. Many businesses (especially small family stores) will
shut down for a
week or two at a time as people take vacations to the beaches.
After 4
months of rain almost every day - people are ready to enjoy
the outdoors
again. (this of course applies more to the 35% or so that are
middle class
although most can afford bus fare to the coast). Quite a few
will also
visit relatives in the U.S. or vice versa.
Of course all of these things affect to one degree or another
how people
experience Christmas here in Costa Rica. Evangelical
churches will have
special programs and worship services celebrating the
saviours birth.
Catholic masses will be better attended. Even more focus
will be given to
the Virgin Mary than usual. Some will simply "party the month
away" along
with their aguinaldo and have big debts in January. It is a
great
opportunity to share the gospel.
Gotta go. Hope this helps.
Jim Deters