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Mardi Lumsden  The religious festival of Christmas may not differ much across the globe, but each country has its own distinct traditions when it comes to celebrating.
Even in countries that are not predominantly Christian, such as India and China, there may be an acceptance of other religious festivals. Uniting International Mission worker, Leslene Woodward, has spent time in Bali and currently lives in southern India. “Christmas is simply another religious festival on the very full religious calendar for the year and tends to be celebrated simply as a religious festival with local customs,” Leslene says. “No one interferes; their own festival is probably coming up soon. In Bali, the shops celebrate, with enthusiasm, any festival of the Hindus, Muslims and Christians, so no sooner are the Ramadan banners taken down, than the Christmas ones go up!” Osker Lau, a native of Hong Kong, says Christmas is very much a shopping festival. “Everything is open late or even 24 hours for shops and restaurants,” he says. “Christmas is right before the New Year and Chinese New Year, which are very large festivals. People will go out to see the lights along the sides of the harbour and it is a big party time. “Last year I was walking along the street and I saw a few carolling groups to tell people that Jesus is the person we need to recognise in Christmas. Certainly there are some people remembering that Jesus is the reason. Most people have the knowledge of what Christmas is, but the society has turned it into a very commercialised idea to generate sales profits.” Commerce is even encroaching on Papua New Guinea (PNG) according to Rev Leva Pat, Queensland Synod Multi Cultural ministry consultant, but there are still alternative gift-giving practices for people outside urban areas. “Gifts come in many forms”, Leva says, “For those in the village they could prepare a basket of garden food and share it with another family. So there are different ways of giving gifts”. Leva also says Christmas celebrations in PNG last much longer than in Australia and the local churches are the focal point. “Christmas is a very big occasion in PNG. It is one that a lot of people look forward to. “The biggest event during Christmas is, of course, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and almost the whole village takes part in that worship. Then it is followed by week-long activities like sports and feasting and it is all part of the celebration of Christmas. “People look to the church to observe the Christmas festivities at home. Whatever activities people are doing, there is a focus on the church and the emphasis is on the birth of Christ. I think it is very different [in Australia].” Further north, in Sweden, the Christmas celebrations begin on the first Sunday of December. Carola Hoeglund has lived in Australia for two and a half years, but each year has returned to Sweden for Christmas. “It is tradition to have four candles in a row and you light one each Sunday of December so after a while you have a stair,” she says.  “On the 13th of December we have something called Lucia. It is like a music event. You have a lead girl wearing a crown with lights in her hair and she’s got a white dress and walks holding her palms together and behind her she has got a line of girls and they all have white dresses as well and they hold a candle in their hand and tinsel in their hair and they sing and perform for the people that are watching.
Carola says aside from the differences in weather and the types of food eaten, Christmas in Sweden is quite similar to Australia. “Everyone stresses out before Christmas because they have got to give everyone a gift and you need to spend heaps of money,” she says, “We have the traditional English Christmas carols but then we have the traditional Swedish ones too.” A Swedish Christmas also has a family focus, unlike Christmas in Hong Kong. “Christmas is not the dominant festival to bring people together in our culture,” says Osker Lau, “The Chinese New Year and the Moon Festival are more like family reunions and gathering”. No matter where you are this Christmas, take time to enjoy the local customs; time with family and friends; gift-giving; carol singing; candle lighting; tree decorating; and explore the many ways of celebrating Christmas.
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