Hot and happy Christmas for SOS children in South Africa
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| SOS mum Sarah lifts baby Tidi for a hug |
Children from SOS Children's Village Ennerdale will be hot and happy at Christmas time, as Christmas falls in the middle of summer in South Africa with temperatures often soaring over 35 degrees. SOS mother Sarah looks after ten children at her home in SOS Children's Village Ennerdale, just outside Johannesburg. "Six of my children will stay with me for the Christmas holidays and the other four will visit relatives." Sarah will also invite two young people who used to live at the SOS Children's Village to spend Christmas day with her family. "For Christmas day we will have a specially cooked meal or a braai (barbeque), depending on the weather. If it is warm the children can go swimming after lunch and then in the evening we will listen to music and dance," Sarah says.
Sarah's children, ranging in age from two to 16, still believe in Father Christmas. "I will put cookies and milk out for Father Christmas," said eight-year-old Mary. "He comes at night while we are sleeping and leaves us presents," she says, smiling happily.
Prince, who is now 14 years old and as image-conscious as any teenager, secretly wishes for an iPod from Father Christmas but when his mother asks him what he wants he says: "A bicycle." His two younger siblings Crushindi and Mary, who look almost like twins but are actually two years apart (ten and eight years respectively), would also like bicycles. And, mother Sarah says of baby Matshidiso, who came to the Village when she was just 18 months: "Tidi would like a tea set. She loves to pour water into cups and pretend to have a tea party." The other siblings are still doing their exams at school and have not put in their requests to Father Christmas yet. As for Sarah, she shyly says she would like a CD player for Christmas and then she quickly excuses herself to go and bake cookies for the man in red!
"Christmas trees", a story by ten-year-old Aldis from SOS Children's Village Islice, Latvia
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| A decorated Christmas tree |
One night there was a tremendous storm. All the trees fell down. During this storm, a man hurried to reach his house. He was running near the forest and saw awful things - most of the trees in the forest were broken and devastated.
He took seeds from the broken trees and sowed them in the ground. This old man took care of his trees and they were very important for him. The trees were satisfied with the care of the old man and they loved him as much as he did. These trees rose fast and extended in rich green. In the old man's garden there were 100 birches and 200 fir trees. The fir trees were the favourite ones for the old man, because the birches lost their leaves in the winter and got frozen but fir trees were always green.
The old man sold his fir trees during the Christmas period. He was happy because he knew that his trees were so beautiful and decorated. A Christmas tree is the thing that brings the special feeling in every family. The children found their gifts under the Christmas tree. The old man was happy because he was sure that his trees felt very good and they were so special.
Let's party Santa Claus
This year Santa Claus will not bring his sleigh to SOS Children's Village Sucre. There is nothing wrong with his sleigh, but this year he has chosen to come in the popular white van of the Village. Do you want to know why?
At SOS Children's Village Sucre, Papa Noel (Santa Claus) is popular not only for bringing gifts, but also for his good appetite. Because of that, every year, SOS mothers, aunts (family helpers) and staff from the village gather together to cook a delicious picana (a mixture of meats in a stew) to receive Santa Claus in the Village. They go out to the local street market and buy all the ingredients they need for the dish: chicken, meat, cow tongue, whole corn, potatoes, beans, and many other things.
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| Santa Claus enjoying a traditional Christmas dish |
In the meantime, the children from the Village organize themselves to receive Santa with Christmas carols. They practise several days in advance for both Santa's party and the incomparable Christmas Eve, which is considered the most important event of the family at the end of the year.
All of a sudden, the unmistakable "JO, JO, JO" reverberates across the large communal dining room of the Village. Everybody knows Santa Claus has arrived. Although the elder children try to keep the secret and do not reveal Santa's real identity, it is not so difficult for the young children to recognize the person behind the disguise.
"I know you are not the real Santa Claus... JA! JA! You are uncle Omar!" says five-year-old Alfonso. He is right. Omar, the Village driver, is their Santa Claus. "Where is your sleigh?" asks a little boy. Santa Claus answers: "I am sorry, but I changed it for a modern vehicle. This year I came driving the Village van." Everyone laughs and the banquet gets started.
Christmas celebrations in Dhaka
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| Christmas drawing by a child from SOS Children's Village Dhaka |
Bangladesh is a predominantly Muslim country, where the number of people following other religions is limited to a few. However, at SOS Children's Village Dhaka, one of the fifteen family houses belongs to a Christian family. Mother Jhuma and her children celebrate Christmas with great joy. And it's not just one family celebrating Christmas but the entire Village joins them in their celebrations. The Village director tells about how the celebrations take place.
"Every year Jhuma and her family celebrate Christmas with joy, enthusiasm and religious rituals. Mother Jhuma decorates her house and gives it a new colourful look. She makes a symbolic birth place of Jesus Christ in a corner of the house.
On Christmas Eve the family go to church together and take part in the special prayer. The historical background of the birth of Jesus and his ideology is focused in the church and special religious songs are sung. Everybody prays to God for the wellbeing of all mankind.
On Christmas Day various types of delicious food are prepared at home including cakes. Mother Jhuma invites all the mothers, children and staff to mark the occasion and everybody joins them and exchanges good wishes. They also exchange gifts and cards with neighbours and well wishers.
A special excursion programme is arranged for the children and mothers. Usually two to three families in the Village go for an outing. Mostly they go out to a movie and let this special day come to an end."
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!