Celebrating Christmas around the world
Pavan Ron - India
Most churches in India have pre-Christmas celebrations where carols are sung, the Word is preached and often ends with a meal. Families take part in Christmas Day church service which happens in the church building just like a regular service.
Families have Christmas celebrations at home by making special dishes throughout the month. Brand new clothes are a must for every person!
Paul Kamami - Kenya
In our culture, first of all we make everything new, from dressing in new clothes to meals symbolizing newness of the newborn Savior. Anyone who fails to obtain these new attires or meals feels somehow offended. We gather, share the Word from Mathew, Luke or Isaiah; give gifts and share a delicious meal together. mostly a goat, bull meat, chicken with rice and chapati including some drinks.
Jean Jacques Masabo - Burundi
In Burundi we celebrate Christmas in both the churches and our homes. It is day when even unbelievers go to church with believers. After church service, they go home to share food and drinks, singing and dancing to Christmas Songs. Sometimes neighbors come together to enjoy Christmas Day together.
Moses Banda - Zambia
Christmas in Zambia is being celebrated by both Christians and non-believers. Christians celebrate as a local church with choirs and performing dramas to celebrate his birthday. We eat a meal together with staple foods such as nsima (maize) with goat meet and local chickens. We will have baptisms and holy communion together. Families in the communities will drink tea only on Christmas because it's a special treat to drink tea. Well to do families will invite less fortunate people to share food and drink.
Abraham Kogo - Kenya
It is good to share how we celebrate Christmas in our diverse cultures. Here in my community we have overnight prayers in the church beginning on 24th at night until we usher in Christmas at 12am on 25th Dec.
We go to church on Sunday morning till 12pm. Sometimes we have a meal together in the church. Then we have a SPECIAL meal at home with kids and family friends. We slaughter a goat or a sheep to enjoy. Soda is a must on the day as well. Christmas is a day to celebrate the birth of Jesus, and we help those who are not having a meal by inviting them to share the meal with us, as we tell them the good news about the Messiah. Mery Christmas to you all.
Moses Womleh - Liberia
In Liberia we get together in the church or homes with more happiness and remembering our Lord Jesus Christ and reading from the book of Luke. We always share food during Christmas as well as other gifts presenting to children and adults.
We may share with you all about our celebration in Liberia. May the Lord continues blessing you all.
Stephen Lam - Kenya Refugee Camps
For us here, Christmas also carrier deep meaning and joy, our preparations begin early starting in November when the congregation contributes whatever they can, After collecting everything, the amount is divided into two parts, one for food and drinks, and then other for buying something tangible for the church. Sometimes furniture even a keyboard or piano that will remain as a sign of that year's Christmas celebration.
During this time we begin teaching Christmas songs in two categories songs about the birth day of Jesus and songs for the street marching that happens on the 24th.
These songs are taught to all groups in the church Sunday school. Children, Choirs, the Youth and the Women.
In December, we decorate the church clean the furniture and even repair and repaint our homes with bright, beautiful colors.
Since many houses are made of mud bricks, we buy Christmas flowers and balloons for the Church and our homes. A Christmas tree is placed inside the church. Families who are able, will buy a goat, chicken, or some meat to celebrate the birth of Jesus together. Children and their parents buy new clothes to mark the new Christmas season.
On the 24th, the whole community joins in a joyful street march singing, beating drums, and celebrating the coming of Christ Jesus. The choirs wear uniforms, and as we move through the streets, more people join the celebration.
Many hearts are touched during this time, some to faith for the first time.
In the evening, we gather at the church to wait for midnight, the hour we commemorate the birth of Jesus.
The Christmas story is dramatized Mary and Joseph, the wise man and the star, Herod seeking the child, and the flight to Egypt. After the reenactment, we hear the preaching of the word of God.
We read the Old Testament prophecies about the coming of Jesus, especially from Isaiah (such as Isaiah 7:14 and Isaiah 9:6)
and then read the New Testament according to the gospel of Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2:1-21 to show how Jesus' birth was foretold by prophet Isaiah long before even the birth of the Baptist
We continue in prayer and worship until around 4:00 am on the morning of the 25th. Then at 7:00 am we return to the Church for a joint service where the entire denomination gather and prays together until noon at 12:00 am
On the 26th, christians visit one another's home, eating together and fellowship some families also go to local hotel for a meal
If the church's Christmas contributions allow, food is shared with the church leaders as well. That marks the end of our Christmas season until the New Year begins, Merry Christmas and happy new year. This is how we celebrate Christmas in our home area, and thanksgiving for the birth of our savior.
Pardon Moyo - Zimbabwe
In Zimbabwe Christmas celebration begins as a season of Christmas which becomes more visible in November. The Christmas decorations will be more in public places, business centers, supermarkets and so on. Christmas adverts and programs on TV, radio and other places become more visible. Christmas celebrations/parties begin before the actual day.
However, as a family we often travel for the holidays to our rural home a few days before Christmas. We do the preparation for the day. Renovations, cleaning and so on. We also decorate the house. We then buy a goat to slaughter on the day.
On Christmas day it's a heavy breakfast with lots of cakes. Then we go to the church. During church service it's singing Christmas carols , teaching/preaching about the birth of Jesus. At times we have Sunday school dramatizing the birth of Christ. We also have presentations of gifts though it's not consistent.
After Church we go home and gather as a big family and we feast together. Music is played and people dance till midnight. At the community center there will also be Christmas celebrations till late.
Christmas is the only feast that brings Christians and non-Christians together in our country.
Simon Geng - Ethiopia
This is how we celebrate Christmas in Ethiopia.
We visit our parents, and at home we have a big family dinner and enjoy fellowship together. As part of our tradition, we slaughter a goat for the celebration on the evening of December 24th, and participate in a church march. Then on December 25th, many denominations gather together for a combined service.
Stephen Kaponga – Tanzania
In our church this is how we celebrate Christmas. We invite a new speaker and new choir from different places, and then we have a three-day Christmas service. Every day we eat food together the whole church. At night only the guests have a super provided for them. On the last day we give gifts to our guests.
Paul Wolff - Papua New Guinea
In Papua New Guinea the Solong believers begin preparations the week before Christmas by going fishing and smoking all the seafood to be eaten on Christmas day. They meet together on Christmas morning for worship and reading the Christmas story in Matthew and Luke. Then the women and children dress up as Bible characters and reenact the Christmas story along with many other Bible stories. The day is filled with laughter, rejoicing, singing and dancing. Then the whole community shares a feast of pork, fish, rice, greens, cassava and sweet potato.
David Kimera - Uganda
Here in Uganda the Christmas season begins the 23rd of December, to enter the Christmas mood.
Homesteads are thoroughly cleaned, and the grass is removed, to welcome the newborn Christmas Child. Then everyone, including adults but especially the children receive new clothes for Christmas day.
On Christmas Day. The women wake up very early in the morning and prepare a good meal for Christmas breakfast. Christmas stories are shared, and those who can afford animals like goats and pigs, slaughter them and share the meat with neighbors as a sign of God's love who gave us his son to save us.
After the Christmas breakfast, we all prepare to go for Church worship service while the Christmas meal is left on the stove cooking. We share and preach the Christmas message during the worship service and afterwards we return to our decorated homes and have a meal.
We share gifts with others, and on Christmas evening, we visit friends or family and enjoy fellowship together.
Gustavo Bolengue - Angola
Christmas in Angola is a vibrant celebration that combines Christian faith with local traditions and culture. It's a national holiday, and people come together to mark the birth of Jesus Christ with joy and festivities.
Many Angolans attend Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and special services on Christmas Day, which are central to the holiday's observance. Churches are beautifully decorated with lights, nativity scenes, and Christmas trees, creating a festive atmosphere.
Families gather for special meals, often featuring traditional dishes like funge (mashed baked cassava or maize), pirão (Brazilian porridge), moamba de galinha (Angolan chicken stew), and bacalao (Dried salted codfish). They also exchange gifts, especially among children, and enjoy music, singing, and traditional dancing.
Christmas feasts typically include local ingredients like cassava, corn, and palm oil, as well as Portuguese-influenced dishes like bacalao and bolo rei cake (Portuguese Christmas cake).
Galbert Agongnonsa - Benin Republic
Christmas in Benin is an amazing celebration. It has become a national Celebration by both Christians and non-Christians. It includes a distribution of toys and presents to the kids. During the Celebration, we Christians go to Christmas night gathering in churches, but even non-Christians come together to mark the birth of Jesus Christ with joy and festivities.
Many members of different churches attend Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and special services on Christmas Day, which are central to the holiday's observance. Churches, Houses, streets and landmarks are beautifully decorated with lights, nativity scenes, and Christmas trees, creating a festive atmosphere everywhere in town. After church, families gather for special meals and musical performances are every where. Children in Caleta caravane, perforn Caleta dance, singing, and traditional dancing.
Christmas feasts typically include local ingredients like cassava and pounded yam With Cow meat or goat meat. Christmas clothing is very important here in Benin. All parents poor and rich are expected to dress their children with new clothing. In our houses, the decoration is extraordinarily nice with Christmas trees and lights. Young people organize football matches in the afternoon. Christmas day in Benin is a vibrant and brilliant celebration period in Benin Republic.
Moses Zombo - Sierra Leone
Christmas in Sierra Leone is like no other time of year. The capital city is largely empty as residents travel to their hometowns in the villages and small towns. It is a time of reunion for every community. All localities celebrate with sports, football, dance, and people share gifts and food. Carols are sung from door to door in the weeks leading up to the day. Christians are in the minority. But no time matches the joy of Christmas.
Stephen Kulang - South Sudan
Many things are the same in our different countries. But in South Sudan the celebration of Christmas begins the first day of December with marching, then decoration and general cleaning of houses also begins. This time is preparation for both home cleaning and heart cleaning. Children looking for new clothes also includes the mother and father. Christmas is also a time for people to share food. Christmas is celebrated in South Sudan by both Christian's and non-Christians alike.
Most churches in India have pre-Christmas celebrations where carols are sung, the Word is preached and often ends with a meal. Families take part in Christmas Day church service which happens in the church building just like a regular service.
Families have Christmas celebrations at home by making special dishes throughout the month. Brand new clothes are a must for every person!
Paul Kamami - Kenya
In our culture, first of all we make everything new, from dressing in new clothes to meals symbolizing newness of the newborn Savior. Anyone who fails to obtain these new attires or meals feels somehow offended. We gather, share the Word from Mathew, Luke or Isaiah; give gifts and share a delicious meal together. mostly a goat, bull meat, chicken with rice and chapati including some drinks.
Jean Jacques Masabo - Burundi
In Burundi we celebrate Christmas in both the churches and our homes. It is day when even unbelievers go to church with believers. After church service, they go home to share food and drinks, singing and dancing to Christmas Songs. Sometimes neighbors come together to enjoy Christmas Day together.
Moses Banda - Zambia
Christmas in Zambia is being celebrated by both Christians and non-believers. Christians celebrate as a local church with choirs and performing dramas to celebrate his birthday. We eat a meal together with staple foods such as nsima (maize) with goat meet and local chickens. We will have baptisms and holy communion together. Families in the communities will drink tea only on Christmas because it's a special treat to drink tea. Well to do families will invite less fortunate people to share food and drink.
Abraham Kogo - Kenya
It is good to share how we celebrate Christmas in our diverse cultures. Here in my community we have overnight prayers in the church beginning on 24th at night until we usher in Christmas at 12am on 25th Dec.
We go to church on Sunday morning till 12pm. Sometimes we have a meal together in the church. Then we have a SPECIAL meal at home with kids and family friends. We slaughter a goat or a sheep to enjoy. Soda is a must on the day as well. Christmas is a day to celebrate the birth of Jesus, and we help those who are not having a meal by inviting them to share the meal with us, as we tell them the good news about the Messiah. Mery Christmas to you all.
Moses Womleh - Liberia
In Liberia we get together in the church or homes with more happiness and remembering our Lord Jesus Christ and reading from the book of Luke. We always share food during Christmas as well as other gifts presenting to children and adults.
We may share with you all about our celebration in Liberia. May the Lord continues blessing you all.
Stephen Lam - Kenya Refugee Camps
For us here, Christmas also carrier deep meaning and joy, our preparations begin early starting in November when the congregation contributes whatever they can, After collecting everything, the amount is divided into two parts, one for food and drinks, and then other for buying something tangible for the church. Sometimes furniture even a keyboard or piano that will remain as a sign of that year's Christmas celebration.
During this time we begin teaching Christmas songs in two categories songs about the birth day of Jesus and songs for the street marching that happens on the 24th.
These songs are taught to all groups in the church Sunday school. Children, Choirs, the Youth and the Women.
In December, we decorate the church clean the furniture and even repair and repaint our homes with bright, beautiful colors.
Since many houses are made of mud bricks, we buy Christmas flowers and balloons for the Church and our homes. A Christmas tree is placed inside the church. Families who are able, will buy a goat, chicken, or some meat to celebrate the birth of Jesus together. Children and their parents buy new clothes to mark the new Christmas season.
On the 24th, the whole community joins in a joyful street march singing, beating drums, and celebrating the coming of Christ Jesus. The choirs wear uniforms, and as we move through the streets, more people join the celebration.
Many hearts are touched during this time, some to faith for the first time.
In the evening, we gather at the church to wait for midnight, the hour we commemorate the birth of Jesus.
The Christmas story is dramatized Mary and Joseph, the wise man and the star, Herod seeking the child, and the flight to Egypt. After the reenactment, we hear the preaching of the word of God.
We read the Old Testament prophecies about the coming of Jesus, especially from Isaiah (such as Isaiah 7:14 and Isaiah 9:6)
and then read the New Testament according to the gospel of Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2:1-21 to show how Jesus' birth was foretold by prophet Isaiah long before even the birth of the Baptist
We continue in prayer and worship until around 4:00 am on the morning of the 25th. Then at 7:00 am we return to the Church for a joint service where the entire denomination gather and prays together until noon at 12:00 am
On the 26th, christians visit one another's home, eating together and fellowship some families also go to local hotel for a meal
If the church's Christmas contributions allow, food is shared with the church leaders as well. That marks the end of our Christmas season until the New Year begins, Merry Christmas and happy new year. This is how we celebrate Christmas in our home area, and thanksgiving for the birth of our savior.
Pardon Moyo - Zimbabwe
In Zimbabwe Christmas celebration begins as a season of Christmas which becomes more visible in November. The Christmas decorations will be more in public places, business centers, supermarkets and so on. Christmas adverts and programs on TV, radio and other places become more visible. Christmas celebrations/parties begin before the actual day.
However, as a family we often travel for the holidays to our rural home a few days before Christmas. We do the preparation for the day. Renovations, cleaning and so on. We also decorate the house. We then buy a goat to slaughter on the day.
On Christmas day it's a heavy breakfast with lots of cakes. Then we go to the church. During church service it's singing Christmas carols , teaching/preaching about the birth of Jesus. At times we have Sunday school dramatizing the birth of Christ. We also have presentations of gifts though it's not consistent.
After Church we go home and gather as a big family and we feast together. Music is played and people dance till midnight. At the community center there will also be Christmas celebrations till late.
Christmas is the only feast that brings Christians and non-Christians together in our country.
Simon Geng - Ethiopia
This is how we celebrate Christmas in Ethiopia.
We visit our parents, and at home we have a big family dinner and enjoy fellowship together. As part of our tradition, we slaughter a goat for the celebration on the evening of December 24th, and participate in a church march. Then on December 25th, many denominations gather together for a combined service.
Stephen Kaponga – Tanzania
In our church this is how we celebrate Christmas. We invite a new speaker and new choir from different places, and then we have a three-day Christmas service. Every day we eat food together the whole church. At night only the guests have a super provided for them. On the last day we give gifts to our guests.
Paul Wolff - Papua New Guinea
In Papua New Guinea the Solong believers begin preparations the week before Christmas by going fishing and smoking all the seafood to be eaten on Christmas day. They meet together on Christmas morning for worship and reading the Christmas story in Matthew and Luke. Then the women and children dress up as Bible characters and reenact the Christmas story along with many other Bible stories. The day is filled with laughter, rejoicing, singing and dancing. Then the whole community shares a feast of pork, fish, rice, greens, cassava and sweet potato.
David Kimera - Uganda
Here in Uganda the Christmas season begins the 23rd of December, to enter the Christmas mood.
Homesteads are thoroughly cleaned, and the grass is removed, to welcome the newborn Christmas Child. Then everyone, including adults but especially the children receive new clothes for Christmas day.
On Christmas Day. The women wake up very early in the morning and prepare a good meal for Christmas breakfast. Christmas stories are shared, and those who can afford animals like goats and pigs, slaughter them and share the meat with neighbors as a sign of God's love who gave us his son to save us.
After the Christmas breakfast, we all prepare to go for Church worship service while the Christmas meal is left on the stove cooking. We share and preach the Christmas message during the worship service and afterwards we return to our decorated homes and have a meal.
We share gifts with others, and on Christmas evening, we visit friends or family and enjoy fellowship together.
Gustavo Bolengue - Angola
Christmas in Angola is a vibrant celebration that combines Christian faith with local traditions and culture. It's a national holiday, and people come together to mark the birth of Jesus Christ with joy and festivities.
Many Angolans attend Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and special services on Christmas Day, which are central to the holiday's observance. Churches are beautifully decorated with lights, nativity scenes, and Christmas trees, creating a festive atmosphere.
Families gather for special meals, often featuring traditional dishes like funge (mashed baked cassava or maize), pirão (Brazilian porridge), moamba de galinha (Angolan chicken stew), and bacalao (Dried salted codfish). They also exchange gifts, especially among children, and enjoy music, singing, and traditional dancing.
Christmas feasts typically include local ingredients like cassava, corn, and palm oil, as well as Portuguese-influenced dishes like bacalao and bolo rei cake (Portuguese Christmas cake).
Galbert Agongnonsa - Benin Republic
Christmas in Benin is an amazing celebration. It has become a national Celebration by both Christians and non-Christians. It includes a distribution of toys and presents to the kids. During the Celebration, we Christians go to Christmas night gathering in churches, but even non-Christians come together to mark the birth of Jesus Christ with joy and festivities.
Many members of different churches attend Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and special services on Christmas Day, which are central to the holiday's observance. Churches, Houses, streets and landmarks are beautifully decorated with lights, nativity scenes, and Christmas trees, creating a festive atmosphere everywhere in town. After church, families gather for special meals and musical performances are every where. Children in Caleta caravane, perforn Caleta dance, singing, and traditional dancing.
Christmas feasts typically include local ingredients like cassava and pounded yam With Cow meat or goat meat. Christmas clothing is very important here in Benin. All parents poor and rich are expected to dress their children with new clothing. In our houses, the decoration is extraordinarily nice with Christmas trees and lights. Young people organize football matches in the afternoon. Christmas day in Benin is a vibrant and brilliant celebration period in Benin Republic.
Moses Zombo - Sierra Leone
Christmas in Sierra Leone is like no other time of year. The capital city is largely empty as residents travel to their hometowns in the villages and small towns. It is a time of reunion for every community. All localities celebrate with sports, football, dance, and people share gifts and food. Carols are sung from door to door in the weeks leading up to the day. Christians are in the minority. But no time matches the joy of Christmas.
Stephen Kulang - South Sudan
Many things are the same in our different countries. But in South Sudan the celebration of Christmas begins the first day of December with marching, then decoration and general cleaning of houses also begins. This time is preparation for both home cleaning and heart cleaning. Children looking for new clothes also includes the mother and father. Christmas is also a time for people to share food. Christmas is celebrated in South Sudan by both Christian's and non-Christians alike.
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TOA Country Coordinators
Abraham Kogo - TOA Africa Director Paul Kamami - East Kenya Stephen Lam - Refugee Centers Gustavo Massacristo - Angola Mbaitoudjim Dikikoldingam - Chad Moses Zombo - Sierra Leone Symon Mponya - Malawi Stephen Kapongo - Tanzania Moses Banda - Zambia Simon Geng - Ethiopia Pardon Moyo - Zimbabwe Stephen Kulang - South Sudan David Kimera - Uganda Galbert Agongnonsa - Benin |
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