What is the meaning of Christmas to you?
Is it about party? People have a particular list of reasons about why they celebrate Christmas. For us here, in Indonesia, celebrating Christmas means celebrating birthday of Jesus Christ. That’s why Christmas belongs to Christians only. We only celebrate this day by attending mass in the church. We will praise and worship The Lord with various Christmas songs together. The mass will ended by shaking hands to each other and say: Merry Christmas!! On Indonesian language we say: Selamat Hari Natal! That is the meaning of Christmas to us. If you celebrate Christmas, then you must be Christians. Just that’s simple.
But, apparently Christmas has a different meaning in several other countries. I found that even non-Christians too can celebrate Christmas. For a particular people, Christmas means party. Some other takes Christmas as family gathering. I can even found that there are also people that consider Christmas means great shopping time. Almost all of these reasons exclude Jesus as the main reason to celebrate. They talk a lot about Santa Claus; red socks hang in the fireplace, kissing underneath the mistletoe, etc. I realize then, that Christmas is also some kind of tradition in the other part of the world.
Christmas does not belong to Christians only. Everybody can celebrate it. Christians celebrate it in the church, while other can celebrate it by family gathering on a long winter holidays. I found it wonderful. I agree that family members should meet and spend sometimes during this holiday. I love to watch Christmas movies with the scene showing the family members sitting together in front of the fireplace and tell stories of their lives in the past few months.
Although I don’t really care about Santa Claus but I love to see that fat man in his red cloths with a funny face sitting in the middle of a mall’s hall. Somehow I feel that: Christmas is not just 24-25 December only. The whole December is Christmas for me.
Christmas is not just attending mass in the church. It’s not only just about party. Christmas is about having sometimes with our family also. Some people choose to sing Christmas song such as: Blue Christmas, White Christmas (I love this song, but unfortunately we don’t have snow over here), Jingle Bells, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, and any other song that tell Christmas without Jesus on it. While for me, my family and every Christian people in Indonesia choose to sing Silent Night, Holly Night, Joy To The World, Hark The Herald Angels Sing, Oh Come All Ye Faithful, and any other classic old songs that describe how Jesus is the only reason why we celebrate Christmas.
For me, all that songs are really amazing. I love every Christmas song (even without Jesus on it), especially the traditional one. It reminds me of how this month is different from any other months. December is a month that could bring a positive tone in the air. That’s when you think more about your family and want to arrange a family gathering. We don’t familiar with giving gifts to each other here on Christmas Eve. After attending the mass in the church, we usually gather together, sing some praise and worship songs, then we will pray to thank God for every blessing we had. After that, we will have dinner together and sleep late that night. What a wonderful moment. I always love Christmas and I hope you do too.
Christmas does not belong to Christians only. Everybody can celebrate it. Christians celebrate it in the church, while other can celebrate it by family gathering on a long winter holidays. I found it wonderful. I agree that family members should meet and spend sometimes during this holiday. I love to watch Christmas movies with the scene showing the family members sitting together in front of the fireplace and tell stories of their lives in the past few months.
Christmas is not just attending mass in the church. It’s not only just about party. Christmas is about having sometimes with our family also. Some people choose to sing Christmas song such as: Blue Christmas, White Christmas (I love this song, but unfortunately we don’t have snow over here), Jingle Bells, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, and any other song that tell Christmas without Jesus on it. While for me, my family and every Christian people in Indonesia choose to sing Silent Night, Holly Night, Joy To The World, Hark The Herald Angels Sing, Oh Come All Ye Faithful, and any other classic old songs that describe how Jesus is the only reason why we celebrate Christmas.
Posts
Maligayang Pasko Ris! That's how we say Merry Christmas in tagalog... Thought I shoueld share it with you since you shared how to say it in your language... Thanks for adding my fifi blog here too...
ReplyDeleteNice to see you active again in blogging dear...
Women
Abbeymae
Mom
The meaning of Christmas to me is about giving. Giving and be thankful for what you have. Praise the Lord above. That is what it is to me.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your thoughts on this!
ReplyDeleteIt's refreshing to hear someone talk about Christmas in a more traditional sense, rather than hearing nothing more than talk of parties, gifts and Santa Claus.
I think there is something about the entire Christmas atmosphere throughout December that hints to us all, Christians and non-Christians, that this is a special time of year.
Whatever your beliefs, I think that this is a good time of year to remember the importance of being loving beings, and rising to the challenge of being the best people we can be, during a period so many people describe as 'a time for giving'. What better thing to give, than kindness?
Also, thank you very much for the nice comment on my blog! I'm certain you'll have a sensational relationship with your daughter as she grows :)
Elise xx