Our first Christmas in Kenya will definitely be different. There are lots of reasons why this is so. However, today, I was feeling a bit puzzled over why is doesn't seem like Christmas here.yet. I have decided to list at least 5 reasons why it is hard to believe that it is Christmas in only 5 days. These are in no particular order.
Reason #1 - There is not an overt commercialization of Christmas here. It is funny that in the States we were always frustrated that Christmas was not viewed for what it was (the Incarnation of God) but as an Economic indicator of the health of the economy. The upside of this here is that there is not the constant message of "Only so and so more shopping days till Christmas". The downside is that there are very few familiar and comfortable reminders that it is the Christmas season.
Reason #2 - There are not any houses decorated with Christmas lights, trees, garland, or bows. This probably relates to Reason #1.
Reason #3 - There are no stories in the newspapers or radio about some judge in some town declaring that it was unconstitutional to set up the Nativity Scene or a Christmas Tree at City Hall. (And no school boards banning the word Jesus or Christmas for the Holiday Pagent!). In fact this past week I have had two Muslims wish me a Merry Christmas. How weird is that?
Reason #4 - There have been no invitations to seventeen different Christmas parties at work or church.
Reason #5 - There is ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NO CHANCE FOR A WHITE CHRISTMAS! How true the saying "not a snowballs chance in..." Seriously, the sun is so bright, the sky so clear, the temperature...shall I say.so perfect (no humidity, pleasant breeze, low of 70, high of 80) that it takes away any hint of what we have experienced of Christmas.
Anyway, several folks have written lately about how different Christmas will be for us and as I pondered it a bit, I realized they were right. But I didn't realize that these simple observations made me realize that it really will be different here for Christmas for more reasons than meet the eye..
Tim,
We have a brown Christmas here too and we are in Minnesota! There has been no snow yet at all but its been 2 degrees Far. most of the time. I envy 80 degrees.
Posted by: Reid | December 20, 2004 at 06:20 PM
I could copy this post and put it in Joe Missionary as my own. It's very different, and in some ways, very refreshing, to celebrate Christmas with the local believers here.
It's also really interesting that the malls all play Christmas music, even the religious ones, and it's very much NOT a Christian country!
Posted by: Joe | December 21, 2004 at 09:39 AM