CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD
Travel Diary by Dave Abbott
In a high-tech world of constant change Christmas comes around with regularity. Celebrated by Christian and non-believer alike it is primarily a family occasion.
Even in poverty-stricken and AIDS ridden Africa, the missionary stories of Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus resonate with millions.
In some regions, under the guise of political correctness and sensitivity, the word Christmas has been officially banned.
The reason given is that non-Christians will be offended by the use of the word. And that people from other cultures, especially Asian immigrants and non-Christians, will be upset and distressed.
Christmas, it is suggested, offends Asians and can cause an inferiority complex. Even greeting cards have been emasculated! Happy Christmas has been replaced by the innocuous Happy Holidays.
In some regions, Christmas trees have been banned at city hall. This kind of social engineering is insidious and insulting to tolerant Canadians.
After more than 40 years of travel in 78 countries, I can assure you the word Christmas is used extensively on five continents including Asia.
Even in Hong Kong, China where there are few Christians, Christmas cash registers celebrate the Lord Jesus.
As for the politically correct - bah, humbug!!!
I recall one Christmas celebration in Swaziland, a tiny landlocked mountainous country in southern Africa in mid-July.
My mother was living there at the time and the majority of her friends were ex-pats working as NGO’s, trade representatives or diplomats. It is common for ex-pats to go on leave at Christmas time usually returning early in the New Year.
In part, for that and other reasons, the Mbabane Ladies Auxiliary decided to celebrate Christmas in July. Invitations were sent out. The local hall was decorated with fairy lights. Plump ostriches were substituted for traditional turkeys and lashings of plum pudding were baked in home ovens.
Ms. Philippa Figgis-Rutherford, a genteel gray-haired lady delicately played Silent Night, and all the standard carols, on an ancient upright as we all joined in singing with gusto.
To the native Africans, it was confirmation the white man was indeed ‘looney!’
Christmas in Hong Kong
Living in Hong Kong at Christmas is a fascinating mix of commercialism, Confucianism and Christianity.
It continues to be celebrated by residents of this former British colony, although for most Chinese it’s just another ‘foreign devils holiday’ since less than five percent of the local population are Christian. But, there is no attempt by Chinese authorities to deny Christians the use of the word Christmas.
For the majority of Chinese on the mainland, it’s just another holiday, tailor-made for shopping. Christmas music rings out in the malls and on radio.
Christmas television commercials play Jingle Bells and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Giant plastic Christmas trees and animated mega neon designs of Santa, outlined in fairy lights, decorate the city office and hotels. Christmas music carries throughout the malls.
Meanwhile a few miles away on the Chinese mainland, Catholic priests are in jail for their beliefs.
Christmas in Ireland
For more than a thousand years Christmas in holy Ireland was a somber, devout, religious celebration with little food and even fewer gifts. The City of Dublin could have been taken from the pages of Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol.
It could also be seen in the pages of Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes.
Santa didn’t visit many Irish chimneys in those days. Barefoot children and old ladies begged for pennies on the streets.
Choirs of boys from orphanages huddled in doorways singing for pennies. Turkey or chicken was not on many menus. Santa stayed home and if he was lucky had a Guinness.
 PHOTO CREDIT: TOR BENGTSON
DIANE FORSYTHE-ABBOTT is shown above at Hy’s Encore in Vancouver with guests at her annual Crabtree luncheon (L-R) Amanda Hansen (wife of Rick Hansen), along with her parents Alison and Patrick Reid. |
But the coming of the Nineties brought unparalleled economic growth until the former impoverished island nation became incredibly affluent earning the title the Celtic Tiger of Europe.
Then the unthinkable happened, the Catholic Church fell from grace and many young people rejected the Church. Society’s values changed. Acquisitiveness, greed, and excess became the watchwords.
But the bells of Christ Church and St. Patrick’s Cathedrals still ring out and the country still retains the true spirit of Christmas.
Deeply spiritual by nature, thousands of overseas Irish return home for the holidays from the four corners of the world. And in a country replete with more chimneys than My Fair Lady, nowadays Santa visits them all!
Christmas in Vancouver
Here at home, the 15th annual Diane Abbott Crabtree Corner luncheon takes place at Hy’s Encore on December 9 at 12 Noon. For reservations, call Sarah at (604) 895-5785.
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Dave Abbott is a travel writer/broadcaster. Further details: www.irishlaughter.ca
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