adminWhile to most people around the world it is all about candle lights, carols and decorated trees, to some, it is a time of sorrow and mourning and to others, it does not even exist on their calendars. Although Christmas is the most popular and most celebrated holiday around the world, it is celebrated in many different ways depending on what people believe in.
In Zimbabwe where Christians dominate the population, Christmas is about remembering the birth of Jesus Christ who is the Saviour of the world. It is about sharing love and happiness with friends and family for the wonderful gift that God gave us.
During the Christmas season, churches often have special services to go along with the holiday. On Christmas night, many churches hold a special midnight communion mass to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Many people buy Christmas trees, or pine trees, and place presents under the tree to be opened on Christmas morning.
“One of the main reasons why we have the custom of giving and receiving presents at Christmas, is to remind us of the presents given to Jesus by the wise men. It is a time of sharing the love that the Messiah has shown us,” said Mabel Chirasha who is a member of the Apostolic Faith Mission church in Kuwadzana.
However, not all Christians believe in Christmas. Some members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church do not believe that the Bible gives an exact date for Jesus’ birth and that there also is no command in the Bible to celebrate his birth.
“We do not celebrate Christmas or other religious festivals throughout the year. There is no specific date in the bible that Jesus was born and 25 December is associated with a pagan festival.
It all depends though with the church. I have heard that some Adventists celebrate Christmas,” said one of the SDA members.
The Jehovah’s Witness are also not different from the Adventists. Jehovah’s Witnesses are of the belief that Christmas has pagan origins and associations.
Derick Marimo, who is a member of the Jehovah’s Witness church said that members of their church do not participate in any Christmas celebrations.
“Christmas is based upon falsehoods and it also promotes idolatry, a practice the Bible condemns. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not want to offend God by imitating these celebrations which incorporate so much falsehood and are associated with the most horrible beliefs from the past. Christmas is also associated with idolatry. ” Said Marimo.
Hinduism
Hindus celebrate a religious holiday in December called Pancha Ganapati, which is a five-day holiday that honours Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed lord of culture and new beginnings. The celebration begins on December 21 and includes outings, picnics, feasts and gift giving. Pancha Ganapati includes traditions that are similar to Christmas traditions.
However, many Hindu families join in Christmas festivities, including parties and gift giving, so that children do not feel left out of the most-celebrated national holiday. Even in India, which has the largest population of Hindus in the world, Christmas is a national holiday and is celebrated as a festival by many Hindu families.
Jewish
Many Jews are uncomfortable about Christmas. They don’t object to Christians celebrating Christmas, but they don’t particularly want to celebrate it. On Christmas Day, some Jews go to synagogue. Jews celebrate “Hanukkah” which occurs around the same time as Christmas.
Buddhism
A popular Buddhist holiday, Bodhi Day, is celebrated in December as well (and goes on for 30 days) to celebrate the Buddha’s enlightenment. Those multi-colored lights christians use for their Christmas tree, are also used during this celebration on ficus trees. Although many Western Buddhist’s may have an artificial pine (Christmas) tree they can use for the same purpose.
Islam
Celebrating the Prophet’s birthday was not prescribed by Allaah or by the Messenger of Allaah (pbuh), so it is not permissible for the Muslims to celebrate his birthday, in obedience to the command of Allaah and the command of His Prophet (pbuh). Regarding Christmas, Isa (a) was not born on the 25th December.
It is not permissible for the Muslim to join the kuffaar in their festivals and to express joy and happiness on these occasions, or to take the day off work, whether the occasion is religious or secular, because this is a kind of imitating the enemies of Allah, which is forbidden, and a kind of co-operating with them in falsehood.
Online Reporter