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Barnes in Commonthe magazine of Churches Together in Barnes
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Christmas Celebrations in Sudanby Rev. Joseph Ayok-Loewenberg
Christmas celebrations in Sudan are outwardly different from those of Western Europe though they have the same spiritual feel. The excitement begins with the first day of Advent, going through the familiar Advent calendar with Carol Services and Midnight Services as people look forward to the big day. But outwardly it is so different: the climate is moderately warm during December and January, it is cooling down due to the North wind which brings a new breath of cool air after the hot rainy season and the beginning of the dry season. This change of weather is joyfully welcomed and for Sudanese Christians it is a sign of the imminent birth of Jesus. Christmas is celebrated both by Christians and Muslims; they join in together in the festivities. Sudanese culturally are very hospitable regardless of their faith. Muslims believe in the miraculous birth of Christ and he is considered as one of their prophets. Just like in Western Europe Christmas is very much embraced by children
and young people, mainly because of the festivities. It is a practice
in Sudan that children and young people go from house to house wishing
everyone a "Happy Christmas". They are usually given sweets,
fizzy drinks and are fed. There are no individual Christmas gifts, but
children and young people receive from their parents new clothes and
shoes, for everyone, adult or young, must appear at the Christmas service
wearing new clothes. The church is decorated and made beautiful, and
becomes more colourful with the colourful dresses people wear. It is
a custom that there is a great feast after the church service, and it
is an open invitation for everyone, for neighbours and strangers. Every
family slaughters a goat, sheep or cow, according to their means. Celebrating
the birth of Christ is considered as a great honour and a time of thanksgiving
to God. This is a little bit different from the Western Christmas family
feast, which is only open to the extended family and closer friends.
In Sudan, the feasting takes place under the trees and every person
passing by is invited to join in to feast. It seems to me that the tradition
of slaughtering a live animal for Christmas comes from our African tradition
that the birth of a child is marked by slaughtering a live animal. This
custom has been adopted by Sudanese Christians. The season of Christmas
for us is like a beginning of new life. It is between the rain season
and dry season when trees are green, it is a bit like springtime in
Western Europe, but the colours are more intense under the bright African
sun. It marks the return of the birds and the beasts from the winter
locations and again the air is full of their songs, and people are very
joyful. Also, the harvest has come in and there is plenty of food for
people and animals.
After the main Christmas Service on Christmas Day people return home for informal celebrations, eating, drinking and dancing in the streets. It feels truly that the Son of God has been born and new life has come into the world. In Sudan, the birthday of a person is celebrated once (when they are born), and at Christmas we celebrate Jesus' birthday, but also our own spiritual birth. It is a beginning of something new in the life of the people and a sign to look forward to when this child returns to us again in person to bring peace, healing and harmony into our broken world. Happy and blessed Christmas to you all! |
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