[ad_1]
Opinions on Monday, December 21, 2020
Columnist: GNA
2020-12-21
File Photo: Coronavirus
Ghanaian Christians for centuries have joined the rest of the world each year to celebrate Christmas on December 25, to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, the Founder of the religion.
Christmas, which means “Mass on Christ’s Day or Mass of Christ,” is primarily observed as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world.
Background
For centuries, Christmas was not celebrated on a single day, but as an entire season in some parts of the world.
Although the date could be a guess, the tradition of observing it dates back to at least the 4th century.
Christmas is often marked with pagan practices such as the use of bringing a Christmas log, decorating with holly and the like, showing the love of Santa Claus, decorating with red flowers and evergreen Christmas trees.
The “evergreen tree” is a symbol of eternal life, the “candles” are an image that Christ is the light of the world, “holly” speaks of the thorns in the crown of Christ and “red” is a color of Christmas that speaks of the blood and death of Christ.
The “gifts” are a reminder of the gifts of the Magi to the infant Jesus and each of them speaks of a component of His incarnation, Majesty in life, Bitter Agony in death and Him as the perfect gift of God for the humanity.
The “bells” are associated with the tolling of the news, or Christ is the good news for Christians.
“Santa Claus” is a Dutch word that means “Sinter Claus” or “Saint Nicholas” in English. Saint Nicholas was an early alleged bishop of a church in Asia Minor (the modern country of Turkey).
It was reported that he had realized some desperate needs of his congregation and that a family had to sell their children as slaves, so he spent one night to leave money, which was gold in a stocking, at his door .
Activities
In this special season, Christians share Christmas cards, food and drinks, baskets, dresses and shoes, among others, with families, neighbors, orphanages and other poor and needy people.
They are also encouraged to offer gifts to Jesus or the Church, give to those who cannot pay, participate in traditions that point out the ways of Christ, read the Scriptures, and thank God for the sun.
The Christmas celebration is most enjoyed by sharing nine lessons taken from memory verses in the Holy Bible and Christmas carols such as “Silent Night |”, “Mary’s Child”, “Oh Christmas Tree:,” Oh Holy Night “, “The first Noel”, “Oh come, oh come Emmanuel”, “Joy to the world” and “Jingle Bells”.
During this season, the celebration varies from country to country.
How is it celebrated in Ghana and beyond?
In Ghana, Christians attend church services, drink wine and dine, visit extended families, visit places of interest such as beaches, movies, shopping malls, etc. and they dress wonderfully for outings.
In the Czech Republic, women turn their backs to the door of the house and put a shoe on their shoulders on Christmas Eve. If the shoe lands with the heel towards the door, then you could also cancel your Tinder account and buy a few more cats.
But if the front of the shoe is facing the door, then he kisses his parents goodbye and starts planning a wedding.
Witnesses from Norway hide the brooms and similar cleaning supplies, and the men fire their guns on Christmas Eve night.
According to ancient belief, this is the best time for witches and evil spirits to emerge.
Some Armenians choose to fast a week before Christmas, and then break the fast with a light Christmas Eve meal called “khetum”, which includes; desserts of rice, fish, chickpeas, yogurt soup, nuts and grape jam. It is, therefore, a perfect time for those who want to lose weight to visit during this season.
Several South Africans enjoy celebrating Christmas with foods such as hairy and fried caterpillars (emperor moth).
Ukrainians, on the other hand, use fake spider webs to cover their trees, hoping that it will bring them luck to be prosperous and never run into financial trouble for the next year.
Venezuela also closes the streets of its capital, ‘Caracas’ so that everyone can go to church on Christmas Eve.
Impact of COVID-19 at Christmas
However, the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak has placed numerous restrictions on people, including; bans on social gatherings in restaurants, religious services, pubs, nightclubs, beaches, business conferences, and gatherings.
Nonetheless, individuals have suffered financial losses as a result of impulsive buying prior to the COVID-19 partial or full closure directives in the respective countries, and parents have had to resort to hiring private teachers for their wards who They have been at home for months because of the ban on schooling.
Furthermore, companies have totally or partially collapsed and workers have been laid off, while those who still worked received half their salaries or small allowances for their maintenance.
In offices where employees worked from home and were paid in full, they lost their usual meeting allowance, car maintenance allowance, or transportation allowance and other petty cash funds in the workplace, which It helped them in various ways.
Families would miss paying for Christmas visits in some countries that still ban travel and social gatherings, and their regular outings to places of interest.
Families have lost their breadwinners and strongest pillars to COVID-19 and have so far not accepted reality.
Some still wallow in pain, disbelief, and hopelessness as a result.
With all this and more, the question is whether Christians who are also victims of respiratory disease are going to enjoy celebrating the holiday amidst the usual resources and rituals that have been denied them by the global coup.
In Ghana, general elections, their results, and disagreements between political parties, their supporters, and the Electoral Commission could also affect the customary ways that Christians celebrate the yuletide.
Ms Theresah Sekpla, an elementary school teacher who receives half her monthly salary from the extra classes, said, “Providing a three-square meal for my five-year-old has even become a challenge, so what? How do I think about getting a new dress? for me this season to go out. “
Nana Yaw Akoto, a former hotel worker who was fired as a result of the outbreak, said: “I was the breadwinner for my family of five, but now that I’m home, the last thing that happened comes to mind. Christmas celebration. We have been asked to stay home until things improve to respond. This Christmas has not come for me ”.
Ms Mavis Ohene Korang, a seamstress, said that although she had lost most of her clients’ loyalty as a result of the ban on social gatherings, outings, and churches, she was about to see the light of Christmas day, and for her that was the most important thing. thing.
Send your news to
and features for
. Chat with us through WhatsApp at +233 55 2699 625.
