CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

Christmas is the annual Christian’s celebration or festival of the birth of Christ on 25th of December of every year. Advent heralded the period of Christmas. Advent is from Latin (Adventus) which means coming. It is the period with four Sundays before Christmas. Christmas is a very important religious season for us Christians just like the period of Idel fitri, Kabir, Salaam etc is important to our Moslem brothers.This period is not only the season of celebration of the birth of our lord and savior Jesus Christ. It is also a special period of reflection for us Christians. It is a moment of prayers and alms giving.

The period of Christmas is so terrific and celebrated by all, here in my country people normally travel home for their celebration. Apart from the celebration of Christmas, it is also a period most people commit many atrocities in the name of Christmas celebrations like stealing to maintain the social status, adultery, hoarding, licentiousness, killings through sacrifices or rituals, robbery, promiscuity, profligacy to mention but a few.

Many Christians are intoxicated by this dynamic but important season of Christmas. It is a period people show of their wealth and riches. It is a period some Christians who don't participate in church's activities donates generously in other that their name will be praised. It is a period of savagery, it is not many people that travel home for Christmas celebrations that return safely and healthy. Some living in the village uses this opportunity to annihilate and bewitches their enemy living abroad yet some of them are Christians. Christmas is a Joyful moment to the world especially we Christians. It is a period of private meditation and devotion, it is a period we confess our sins, it is a period we remember the Hoi polloi (common) people among us, it is a period we thank God for the gift of his son Jesus Christ who came to salvage us from sin, hardship and punishment.

Finally Christmas is a period Christians should thank God for their lives. It is a period we venerate the saints (Dulia), it is a season we honor Blessed Virgin Mary (Hyperdulia) through whom God was made man in Christ Jesus. And it is a moment we Christians should worship God (Latria) in a special way for giving us his only begotten son to be born of a woman for our salvation and freedom. (Viva Christians).