This month, Rosedale International (RI)’s workers will experience Christmas in many different cultures around the world. Some will find themselves surrounded by parties and decorations, while others will see no culture-wide celebration at all. To close out the year, we asked our workers to share what Christmas is like in their part of the world and how they celebrate the birth of Jesus as strangers in a foreign land.
In the majority-Muslim cultures of the Mediterranean region, the light-, advertisement-, and event-filled December that we Americans are used to is noticeably absent. “Walking out on the streets, there is nothing to indicate that Christmas is coming,” reflects Cora. “I used to miss that, but I’ve come to appreciate it, as it takes some of the noise and pressure away from Christmas, and allows us to focus on the advent of Jesus’s first coming.”
RI workers in the region band together to participate in holiday traditions; they bake cookies, exchange gifts, and gather to read the Christmas story, feast, and celebrate the birth of the Savior. They also take the opportunity to invite friends and neighbors to celebrate through drinking tea and decorating cookies. “It’s a fun time to share about the reason for our hope.”
“Being away from family during the holidays can be difficult, but I love how every year we find family through our team and our friends around us.”
Spain’s cultural celebrations are much bolder, with elaborate festivities including lights, markets, and the Twelve Days of Christmas. “Things usually kick off on Christmas Eve, when families gather for a big evening meal that often lasts into the night,” Brian explains. Feasts and celebrations continue through the next twelve days, with the grand finale on Three Kings Day. On the night of January 5, the city hosts a parade for the Three Kings who will arrive and “leave gifts” for the children to receive the next morning.
Ecuador hosts similar celebrations. Streets and homes are decorated with trees, nativity scenes, garlands, and colorful lights, and many cities hold parades that represent the Christmas story. The Catholic roots of both these countries and their strong focus on family and gathering during the holidays create a great opportunity for our workers to share the gospel and to build connections in their communities.
In South and Southeast Asia, local partner teams see the holidays as a major evangelistic opportunity. While these regions are primarily Muslim or Buddhist, the people “love celebrating the new year, so having a big party with music, food, and gifts is something that non-Christian friends and neighbors understand and are happy to attend,” says Tom, Asia regional director. “This provides a unique opportunity to gather people together in celebration while also sharing the story of Jesus.”
Workers in Thailand find similar opportunities. As the weather cools down a bit, stores begin decorating for the holidays, and a celebratory mood emerges. Thai believers view this as a time to demonstrate joy and bless others with the love of Jesus; the local church goes all out for Christmas, hosting large events with gift exchanges, food, games, and a presentation of the gospel.
On Christmas Eve, Jacob and Dani’s family celebrate Shepherd’s Night. “We turn off all the lights except the Christmas tree and imagine what the first Christmas would have been like for the shepherds,” Dani shares. “Being away from family during the holidays can be difficult, but I love how every year we find family through our team and our friends around us.”
We invite you to pray for each of RI’s workers during this Christmas season. Our hope is that their celebrations, no matter how large or small, will create more opportunities for the unreached to hear the gospel. Merry Christmas from Rosedale International!
Photo credit: Cristina Glebova on Unsplash
