One can still celebrate Christmas even when marooned in non-Christian countries. This is your chance to be creative and to share the Christmas spirit with your new friends.
Have you ever celebrated Christmas in a non-Christian country?
There have been times when we have been marooned in non-Christian countries during Christmas. What is a non-Christian country?
Well, I'm really referring to countries that managed to avoid our great burst of Colonial aggressiveness in the 18th and 19th centuries and so have no memories, however remote, of the great Christian festival. Don't look for Santa in Maldives or Nepal, as examples.
Well, I'm really referring to countries that managed to avoid our great burst of Colonial aggressiveness in the 18th and 19th centuries and so have no memories, however remote, of the great Christian festival. Don't look for Santa in Maldives or Nepal, as examples.
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| Artificial Christmas Tree. Source: aesta1 |
Now in some places, Christmas is quite independent of religion and you hear the carols ripping out in blind indifference to the English words.
Buddhist countries like Thailand seem comfortable with everything.
We are now in Vietnam and I was flabbergasted when Christmas trees sprouted in malls and stores and the choices of Christmas ornaments are just amazing. Vietnamese friends are buying all these ornaments and Santa gifts to make their kids appreciate Christmas.
We are now in Vietnam and I was flabbergasted when Christmas trees sprouted in malls and stores and the choices of Christmas ornaments are just amazing. Vietnamese friends are buying all these ornaments and Santa gifts to make their kids appreciate Christmas.
But in other countries, there is a certain grumpiness towards Christianity and other than the infrequent Frosty the Snowman which makes no sense in tropical Kuala Lumpur or a scruffy plastic tree in a store window with a camel-like deer close at hand, there isn't a hint of this festival. It is often quiet with just a few decorations in some of the stores and maybe some gifts with Christmas trims in a window.
The excitement leading to Christmas
Absence of the smell of fir. Other than that, there is no excitement as you count the days leading to Christmas. There's no excitement among the grade 2s, no pageants for the grade 5's and no racing from store to stores by the grade 8 girls lining up the much anticipated hot clothing items.
No rush in the stores for those hard to get toys, no Christmas trees on top of cars to be decked out in an explosion of family cooperation when they reach home.
There is the absence of the smell of fir and of the annual disastrous baking as Mom makes skeet like mince meat tarts. And all the Christmas parties, too. The goodwill and good wishes and fellowship. Santa may be seen in a really bad drawing here and there, but there are no church bells or clusters of families making the annual troop march to Church with grandma.
Why Fret about what is not there?
Make your Christmas a Memorable one. Yes, wherever you are, plan a Christmas that will be remembered by family and friends. Start to plan it now. Here's some help:
Here's a Christmas preparation we often forget
Prepare your heart for Christmas. Not too many celebrate Advent now.
Everyone is busy with all those shopping deals that we just can't find time to stay put and once again experience the spirit of waiting, the expectation for the centre of Christmas, the child Jesus.
We seem not to find the time other than putting a nativity set to remind us of the true meaning of Christmas. Maybe, this 2015, get yourself a book on Advent and take some time to make it once more a part of your life this holiday season.
Everyone is busy with all those shopping deals that we just can't find time to stay put and once again experience the spirit of waiting, the expectation for the centre of Christmas, the child Jesus.
We seem not to find the time other than putting a nativity set to remind us of the true meaning of Christmas. Maybe, this 2015, get yourself a book on Advent and take some time to make it once more a part of your life this holiday season.
Many countries now get into the Christmas shopping
In several non-Christian countries now, the commercial side of Christmas has taken over. Christmas decorations now adorn many stores and even a few houses.
Many of our no-Christian friends have decked their homes for the holiday. This is the reason why Christmas commercial promoters want to do away with Christmas and just use Holiday. Why not share the celebration? The Christians can always make it Christmas for their families just like the Jews celebrating Hanukah.
When we were in Hanoi one Christmas, I did not bring any ornament. I asked around where I can get some Christmas decors and the hotel reception gave me the street. I was blown away when I saw the number of stores just selling all kinds of Christmas decors from Christmas trees to wreaths and ornaments that are more beautiful and cheap than the ones we get in North America or Europe.
Many of our no-Christian friends have decked their homes for the holiday. This is the reason why Christmas commercial promoters want to do away with Christmas and just use Holiday. Why not share the celebration? The Christians can always make it Christmas for their families just like the Jews celebrating Hanukah.
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| Christmas Decorations in a Store in Hanoi. Source: aesta1 |
When we were in Hanoi one Christmas, I did not bring any ornament. I asked around where I can get some Christmas decors and the hotel reception gave me the street. I was blown away when I saw the number of stores just selling all kinds of Christmas decors from Christmas trees to wreaths and ornaments that are more beautiful and cheap than the ones we get in North America or Europe.
As an example, I wanted 10 yards from a roll of ribbon and so in action, I tried to communicate this. Then, a girl helped me and told me the whole roll cost 15000 dong which is less than 1 US$ so I came home with several rolls of red ribbons. Store upon store of bid Christmas trees all very tastefully decorated, too. I don't want to go back there to be tempted some more.
What we miss of Christmas most of all
The spirit that these things associated with Christmas bring. When we spent Christmas in Portugal and Spain, the same decorations adorn the stores and homes but the Spirit is there. There is a deeper meaning to the celebration that people contemplate even if only in their hearts.
Most of all, in non Christian countries, we miss the Christmas carols, and Chevy Chase wannabees making annual craze with the house lights, the parade, the fantastic store windows, Alistair Sim as Scrooge, the advent Masses, the fireplaces with fresh pines or fresh mistletoes and people all walking to Church for the midnight Mass or families all noisily celebrating Christmas traditions with their turkey or ham dinner.
It's like taking a month out of the year or knowing you've forgotten something but you can't remember what.
It's like taking a month out of the year or knowing you've forgotten something but you can't remember what.
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| Carols at the Metropole in Hanoi. Source: aesta1 |
Christmas Carols for You
Sing your heart out and have a great Christmas wherever you are. There are many Christian poverty reduction and street children projects and sometimes these or the Christian schools, have choirs who sing at local hotels and you can enjoy a great old sing along there.
If there are none, print copies of Christmas carols and sing these with you friends and family. Once in the hotel where we stayed in Hanoi, the staff organized carol singing and we enjoyed it so much. Our non-Christian friends sang with us as they often hear these songs on television.
If there are none, print copies of Christmas carols and sing these with you friends and family. Once in the hotel where we stayed in Hanoi, the staff organized carol singing and we enjoyed it so much. Our non-Christian friends sang with us as they often hear these songs on television.
Find a church where you can attend Christmas Service
We have been in Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu countries at Christmas. This has not necessarily stopped us from celebrating Christmas with all the trimmings. Of course, it depends on the country.
Most of these countries although non-Christian have many Christians living in them so we usually manage to find a Church or a place where we can go for Christmas Mass or Service.
Most of these countries although non-Christian have many Christians living in them so we usually manage to find a Church or a place where we can go for Christmas Mass or Service.
Often, there are Christian schools and the celebration takes place, though subdued in respect for the host country's sensibilities.
Most Christian countries are fairly soft on other folks' festivals. In others, a good whistle of Good King Wenceslas may be illegal. Sometimes, it's hard to figure out why everyone expects us to be totally tolerant while they behave in less neutral ways!
Most Christian countries are fairly soft on other folks' festivals. In others, a good whistle of Good King Wenceslas may be illegal. Sometimes, it's hard to figure out why everyone expects us to be totally tolerant while they behave in less neutral ways!
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| Nativity Display in the Church. Source: aesta1 |
International Hotels always bring Christmas on
Some of these countries may permit markets catering to expats in the main city but in the boonies, you're on your own. Christmas is a total non-event and you need to remind yourself that the great festival (for us) is here again. Bakeries often make Christmas goodies as well.
If these did not survive the end of the colonial age, there are always five-star hotels who cater to the whims of their guests and will surely prepare whatever you want when you give them time enough to make the necessary preparations.
If these did not survive the end of the colonial age, there are always five-star hotels who cater to the whims of their guests and will surely prepare whatever you want when you give them time enough to make the necessary preparations.
Once in the Sheraton in Karachi, we invited some Pakistani friends to a fantastic Christmas spread but we had to drag out the Chef to assure them that the turkey was halal. That was all the concern but it turned to be a very enjoyable celebration and a great chance to explain the idea of the gift and the really weird notion of peace and goodwill among men.
Embassies sometimes put on Christmas for its citizens
There are cases when embassies will put on a good show. The US embassy in Cambodia is very well decorated during Christmas although it hunkers within a fortress of self-protection that distorts the message a bit.
The Antipodian embassies always make a good start on decoration but seem to get too far into the Christmas spirit(s) and too early to finish the job.
The Antipodian embassies always make a good start on decoration but seem to get too far into the Christmas spirit(s) and too early to finish the job.
We do try to celebrate at home when we can and invite our friends. It is always fun to share with them our food and traditions.
They always appreciate this in countries where religion has not deteriorated into a fist of oppression. We had a great Christmas dinner in at the Strand in Rangoon (Yangon) a few years back and the old Chef was giggling with delight.
They always appreciate this in countries where religion has not deteriorated into a fist of oppression. We had a great Christmas dinner in at the Strand in Rangoon (Yangon) a few years back and the old Chef was giggling with delight.
More and more now, the locals of the non-Christian countries we had been in at Christmas have learned to greet us and some even prepare gifts. Sometimes, they ask for the meaning of the celebration.
In big cities in many of these non-Christian countries, you will now see the streets and stores fully decorated with Christmas trims during the season. We celebrated Christmas once in Thailand and it was just like home as the hotels and stores looked very much like the ones in the Christian world.
In big cities in many of these non-Christian countries, you will now see the streets and stores fully decorated with Christmas trims during the season. We celebrated Christmas once in Thailand and it was just like home as the hotels and stores looked very much like the ones in the Christian world.
Make sure you create memories of your Christmas in other countries.
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