Christmas

Three times this last week, new missionaries have asked me, "So how do you celebrate Christmas here?", or some form of that question. The hot weather, green foliage, same old same old all round can make it difficult to feel the anticipation of Christmas. Unfortunately, some of the materialistic side of Christmas is starting to arrive here. But overall, in this culture it is still a sacred holiday. Many churches have a series of long, extra services in celebration of Christ's birth. And the pageants I've seen - they deserve their own blogspace!

I get a kick out of being able to help others transition. I've been the stranger so many places, and have gone through trying to 'figure out life' in Congo, Central African Republic, Cameroon, and the United States. I think that's one of my gifts - part of who God made me to be. But I digress.

One Cameroonian was telling me the other day that he wants to get a Christmas tree (fake) but is going to wait til next year. This year he doesn't have enough money. He explained that for the people here, if you have a tree, that basically tells people that you have plenty of food to share with any who drop by. He says he doesn't yet have enough money to feed all the neighbors/friends who would come by after seeing the invitation of a Christmas tree in his house. So maybe next year.

So how do I celebrate Christmas? In the states, I love having a tree, lights, ornaments, etc. But here? I don't have a tree. I don't have room to display a tree in our current apartment. I don't want to store a tree (no fresh trees are for sale that I've seen). To me, the tree doesn't matter. So here's what I told those new missionary friends:

For Christmas, we read Bible passages every day for advent, I have a swedish angel chime tree, we light candles, listen to Christmas music, and eat spritz cookies. You can't do everything. But as my wise mother advised, having a few special things can go a long way toward making you feel at home. So a while ago I decided, if I have the candles and spritz, it's Christmas. You don't need a lot. Coming out here, I made sure to pack my cookie press, almond flavoring, and angel-chime-tree. And cardamom for Santa Lucia bread.

And no, it doesn't feel like Christmas the same way as in the states, where you can buy fun gifts for all the family, where the stores are brightly decorated, where the stores remind you how many days to shop before Christmas, where the commercials feature sentimental or funny wintery scenes - and yet there can be good in not being distracted by all that.