Christmas - a Pakistani celebration!
By Viviana Rodrigues
 

The message I would like to give each and every one of you today is to understand the real meaning of Christmas and also to give you a glimpse of how we as a minority celebrate Christmas and its related festivities in our home country - Pakistan.

Usually when the word Christmas enters our minds, our thoughts are directed towards Christmas trees, candy canes, Santa Clause, parties, dances and of course presents - what would Christmas be without presents under the tree'

Some people feel it is an exclusively Christian holiday, holding no special meaning for them. In Pakistan the 25th of December is also the birthday of our Founder Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and so a public holiday for the country. Others believe it is nothing more than a feeding frenzy for the free market and an excuse to get people to open their wallets at every turn. Others take the viewpoint that it is a holy day that is cheapened and diminished by all the garish festivities. Yet few, if any, when really pressed, are willing to give up the Christmas holiday, in spite of their ambivalent feelings

But it's a wonder why people forget the real images of Christmas and its true meaning - the child Jesus, the manger, the star, the animals and the bitter cold; after all aren't these the reason why there is a Christmas' Jesus our Lord came into this world as a gift from God and so the tradition of gift giving on Christmas Day came about. It's time we forget the material Christmas and look forward to a more spiritual one.

One must understand that true happiness can be achieved on this day through one tiny act - the act of giving rather than taking. To bring a smile on an orphan's face, a visit to an old age home just to make someone feel loved and special and a shared meal with the less fortunate, all these little actions bring out the true meaning of Christmas.

I think you've got a pretty good idea of what Christmas is all about so it's time to take a peek into the Christmas Season in Pakistan. Though as a community, we are small in numbers, the festivities are not cut short, from family visits to parties, carol singing to Santa clause, gift giving to toffee making we enjoy all the season has to offer! It all begins from the end of November; new clothes for everyone and that means the tailors soon have their pockets jingling. Once the clothes have been ordered, it's soon time to bring out the flour, rolling pins and all the sweet making accessories!

I come from a traditional Goan family and toffee making is a must in every home, from culculs to woras, neuris to coconut toffees; and from delicious plum cakes to the traditional bathk cake, the entire family comes together to make these delectable Christmas delights. All this hustle and bustle is not over till the sweets have been distributed on Christmas Eve and shared with neighbors and friends!

The Christmas season begins with Advent a time when we prepare the coming of Jesus into our homes and our lives. The church's ministries hold advent services in the neighborhood, where people come together to discuss and share views on how they would like to celebrate Christmas. The period of Advent lasts for four weeks and so these discussions are held on a weekly basis; all members of our community, parents, children, elders etc. are encouraged to attend.

One of the most significant experiences of Christmas itself is the Midnight prayer service held in almost all churches across Pakistan. The hour leading to the midnight chime is dedicated as a 'Holy Hour' when the 'faithful' join the ensemble of church choirs in the joyous singing of Christmas carols, especially the 'holy carols' such as the immortalized 'Silent Night, Holy Night', 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing', 'Joy to the World' and so many other memorable renderings. The 'Midnight Mass' is also the culmination of the Advent when the preparation is complete for the 'coming of Jesus Christ' in our homes. Special prayers are offered for the departed souls, the lowly and the downtrodden, the under-privileged of our society and for the general welfare of our country.

It doesn't stop there; let's now add a little more fun and a drop of the typical Christmas atmosphere. A few weeks before the big day, the many parish communities hold Christmas tree parties where Santa comes and gives away presents, carol singing around a cozy bonfire and games and fun evenings are held for all. Children group up and go caroling to all the houses in the neighborhood including many homes of Muslim families. Some Muslim children even join these groups and go caroling, the more the merrier because everyone knows the words of the famous “Jingle Bells” and “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer!”

One popular children's event in Karachi is the Annual Carnival of Carols, an evening that brings together children from all the parishes in the city on one platform. A family affair introduced in year 2000 and has been continuing since - the upcoming Carnival of Carols 2006 will be held on the lawns of St. Lawrence's Parish on December 21. The children read messages relating to Christmas and sing carols, the evening is then followed by a Christmas Bazaar, where one can shop for Christmas treats and decorations. The previous year the Carnival of Carols was dedicated to the children who suffered in the Earthquake. The Karachi Goan Association (KGA) also plays host to many Christmas functions and gatherings, from a game of Tombola or Grand Whist Drive with a BUMPER prize to a night of dancing under the mistletoe.

Christmas day itself is like a family reunion, everyone goes visiting their near and dear ones, exchanging gifts and pleasantries.

For Christians everywhere and in Pakistan particularly, it is that wonderful time of the year when you feel so special, spiritually and socially. Somehow, everything falls in place to give each one of us the joys and blessings of one of the happiest seasons of all time. The best part about Christmas is that it knows no bounds, in every country people from all walks of life, whoever they may be, enjoy a slice of the celebration; and in Pakistan too, with the growing number of Christians here and government's recognition of the festivals of the minorities, Christmas is becoming a great feast for everyone.

Newspapers, television and radio print and broadcast special Christmas Day articles and programs, respectively, thus informing people more about what Christmas is all about and how Christians in Pakistan celebrate this great occasion in the country. Today, there is a wider coverage of Christmas activities because of the increasing number of television channels; plays, carol singing and visits to Christian homes are all part of the programs dedicated to Christmas celebrations.

Christmas comes but once a year and so I enjoy mine to the fullest. I involve myself in several activities in preparation for this great feast, help in making toffees, alongside that making a mess of the kitchen and of course the decoration of the tree and the rest of the house.

I usually spend my Christmas with family and friends because that is where my happiness lies. To add more color to Christmas I give of myself either to help out with charities or other activities that calls on people to give their time and share with those who haven't anything.

I hope the message of Christmas has been embedded in the hearts of all the readers. This feast is one that can be shared by all be they Muslim, Christian, Parsi, Hindu or Buddhist, because Christmas brings about love and the spirit of peace among all mankind! My wishes for you this Christmas - that you and your family share in this wonderful celebration and share the love God has given us. May the blessings of this holy season be with you and your loved ones, now and forever. Before I end I would like to share with everyone a very famous carol and a personal favorite, the lyrics of which say a little about Christmas.

Silver Bells
City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style.
In the air
There's a feeling
of Christmas.
Children laughing
People passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on ev'ry street corner you'll hear,
Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city.
Ring-a-ling, hear them sing.
Soon it will be Christmas day.
Strings of streetlights
even stop lights
Blink a bright red and green
as the shoppers rush
home with their treasures.
Hear the snow crunch.
See the kids bunch.
This is Santa's big scene.
And above all this bustle
you'll hear,
Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them sing
Soon it will be Christmas day.

Happy reading and not to forget Happy Holidays!