Webale Christmas

In Uganda, Christmas was brought by the white missionaries over a hundred years ago. So it is not such a big deal as it is in the states. Most people dress up and walk to church. The speeches are extra long this day. The Christmas carols are not the same. Here they sing the ancient British version of all of the songs. Even if the tune is the same the words usually are not. It is a religous holiday more than anything here. It is only one day. There is no mad rushes to get the sales the day after Thanksgiving. There are very few stores selling anything "Christmas". The Christmas season last a day or two.(except at the Cash home!) The Christians thought it was funny that we decorated for Christmas soon after we had our private "Turkey Day."
For most Batooro this day means going to church. After church the Christmas meal will consist of boiled millet, motoke, and some kind of boiled meat(Beef, chicken or goat).Many will also gorge themeleves on Nsininne (grasshoppers) Some people exchange small gifts but it is not expected. Those from the towns, who are more western may give a store bought Christmas card. Some rich men give their wife,or wives, a dress.
There are no chestnut roasting on an open fire or Jack Frost nipping anything. The only stocking hung by the imaginary chimney with care are by the two American families with kids. A sleigh ride with jingle bells is out of the questions in the 80 degree weather. There is no Rudolf the red nose reign deer. There are very few chimneys for Santa to go down. And I think he would have heat stroke being "dressed all in fur from his head to his foot." There is no eggnog or candy canes. It is all a little different here.
Recently the government put a ban or high fees on cutting trees from the forests. There are not many Christmas trees anyway.
The big Red guy is not known as Saint Nick or Santa Clause
but people may know him as "Father Christmas".
One Ugandan described him as "some white guy in a story".
There are not any huts or houses with Christmas light.
Normal Rockwell would have an interesting challenge capturing the Ugandan Christmas.
It would be a picture of Ugandan children acting out the birth of Yesu.
He might show a family in their modest hut with their heads bowed thanking God for sending Jesus. I think the picture would be very simple.
Families together, eating, laughing and praying.
Maybe we can learn something from our Uganda brothers. Simplicity. When everything is stripped away we can sit down together and drink some hot tea. We can enjoy being with those around us and thankful for our family and friends who may be far off. In all of this together we can thank the Lord for sending his son. What a perfect gift He gave!


Silas wanted to show me the sheep that was from the nativity scene.
Soon after I took this picture he launched it across the room.


"Daddy this is the angel dat told people about baby Jesus!"
Isaac said.


Silas loves the Christmas tree. He is trying to get the glass passifier out of the tree.
Isaac told me that we need to buy a glass blanket to put next to the glass passy.
"That would be cool, Dad!"
Merry Christmas!

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