|
Friends United
Meeting |
 |
December 2011
A Bolivian Christmas
By Emma Condori-Mamani, Quaker Life intern
Christmas is twofold for me because of the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and because of the warm family gathering at my parents’ home. Daily I celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ in my heart. At Christmas this celebration is huge since people celebrate with me. A celebratory atmosphere flows in the air among Bolivian families. People who are around me have open hearts, so we share God’s love, peace and joy. By singing heartfelt songs and praying together my family and I remember why and how Jesus Christ was born in the world and in our hearts. Some of my family members are aware that Jesus has not come into their hearts yet, but for Christmas they invite Jesus into their lives.
When I go to the markets during the month of December in Bolivia it is amazing to see people — poor and rich — selling and buying food, clothes and Christmas ornaments as if it were the last day of their lives. Even though some Bolivians cannot afford to purchase many things, they make sure to get a little baby Jesus from the Nativity to place under their Christmas tree. At my parents’ home, however, we have never had the baby Jesus figurine, nor wrapped gifts, under the Christmas tree. My family does not practice Christmas traditions as the world does because we see these traditions as outward symbols and not the true meaning of the season. As a child my parents often took my siblings and me to the open-fairs (outdoor markets) in December to buy new clothes for the coming year, but these were not placed under the tree. My older brothers and sisters and I were always happy at Christmas, not for the gifts but for spending several delightful days together.
On December 24 we sit together to have a cup of hot chocolate with milk, served with a piece of the sweet bread Panettone at teatime. In the evening we have chicken for Christmas dinner. On December 25 everyone (except the children under eight) brings goodies to share for a traditional breakfast. Two family members are in charge of offering a piece of each of the goodies to everyone. My father gives the blessing as it happened at the Last Supper. After the breakfast feast we go for a picnic (December is the summer season in Bolivia) near the huge blue Lake Ticaca. We play all types of games together, just as children do at recess by the shore of this lake. Sometimes it seems we are all the same age. When I hear the phrase “the angels in heaven rejoice together” (e.g., Luke 2:13-14), I think about my family members rejoicing together at Christmas time.
People talking about Jesus Christ during the Christmas season sounds as beautiful to me as singing in a worship service. I cannot help but join them in this twofold celebration of Jesus Christ and family. The Christmas season shows me the best of humanity, where people speak the language of love and rejoice together as if they were children of the same family.
Emma Condori-Mamani is a student at the Earlham School of Religion and is serving as an intern with Quaker Life for the 2011-12 school year. Emma is a member of Holiness Friends Yearly Meeting in Bolivia.