Portland observer., December 15, 1982, Christmas Around the World, Page 27, Image 27

Portland Observer, December 15,1962 Section III Page 3
Christmas traditions from around the world
Ghana
T h e C h r is tin a * fe s tiv a l w as u n ­
k no w n in G h a n a u n til the m id -19 th
c e n tu ry w h e n th e G e r m a n , Swiss
and British missionaries arrived .
H o m e * a n d c h u rc h e s in G h a n a
are decorated w ith flowers and palir.
b ra n c h e s b e g in n in g w ith th e f ir s t
A d v e n t— fo u r w eek* b efo re C h ris t­
mas.
C h ristm as D ay brings church ser­
v ic e s , th e n th e C h r is tm a s d in n e r
consisting o f rice, y a m *, stew, bean
o r o k ra soup. G ifts are d is trib u te d ,
friendships sealed. T h e child ren re­
c e iv e p re s e n ts f r o m S a n ta C la u s ,
w ho comes not fro m the N o rth Pole
fro m the church to a nearby h illto p
w h e re th e s e rv ic e is h e ld . T h e
m u ltitu d e s a re g iv e n b re a d a n d a
b ev e rag e th a t has been blessed by
the priests.
A fte r the w orship service the day
is spent in dance, sport and feasting.
but fro m the jun g le.
Ethiopia
C h ris tm a s c o in c id e * w ith the
m ain cocoa season, so good produc­
tio n c a lls f o r m o re c e le b r a tio n .
M a n y fam ilies buy cows, sheep and
goats to be slaughtered fo r C h ris t­
mas d ay; good w ine is stocked. T he
street* and h ig h w a y * are fille d w ith
those w h o have gone to the c ity to
w ork, now traveling home to their vil­
lages fo r C hristm as.
O n C h ris tm a s E v e th e c h u rc h
bells rin g and the p eo p le go to the
church to see the C h ristm as T re e —
an evergreen o r a p alm . H y m n * are
sung; children present the m aternity
story.
E a rly in the m o rn in g o n C h r is t­
mas D a y , young people and elderly
p eo ple re p re s e n tin g the shepherds
a n d the an g els, sing in th e streets
and receive gifts.
C h ris tm a s h a* been celeb rated in
E t h io p ia f r o m th e e a rlie s t tim e s .
T h e C o p t ic
C h u rch
o b s e rv e *
Christm as on January 7th.
M a n y c h u rc h e s in E t h io p ia a re
centuries o ld , hewn fro m ro ck. They
are usually square, w ith a surround­
ing co u rtyard . T h e a lta r is fre q u e n t­
ly ado rn ed w ith m arble o r gold; the
ark is covered w ith precious stones.
On
C h ris tm a s
th o u s a n d s
of
C h ris tia n s m a k e p ilg rim a g e s to
L a lib c la . k n o w n as the " J e ru s a le m
o f E t h io p ia " . Because the w eath er
is m o d e r a te , th e h ills id e s a re
c o v e re d w ith p e o p le p ra y in g a n d
c h a n tin g , w a itin g f o r C h ris tm a s
daw n.
In the m o rn in g a procession goes
In Spain the Three Klnga parade through town accompanied by many childran.
Ibday’s most exciting Christmas
f,
In a mountain village In Peru, people wear maaka and coatumaa
on the Day of the Klnga.
THE VIRGIN MARY
HAD A BABY BOY
’ X '
he Virgin M a ry had a baby boy.
The Virgin M a ry had a baby boy.
The Virgin M a ry had a baby boy,
And they said His name was Jesus.
He come from the glory.
H e come from the glorious kingdom!
O h . yes, believer!
He vome fio m the glory.
H e come from the glorious kingdom
— N e g ro sp iritu al
GO TELL IT
ON THE MOUNTAIN
G
o tell it on the m o u ntain ,
O ver the hills and everywhere;
G o tell it on the m o u ntain ,
T h a t Jesus Christ is born.
W hen I was a seeker,
I sought both night and day,
I asked the L o rd to help me,
A n d H e showed me the w ay.
H e made me a w atchm en
U p o n a city w all,
A n d i f I am a C h ris tia n ,
I am the least o f all
G o tell it on the m o u ntain ,
O ver the hills and everywhere;
G o tell it on the m o u ntain ,
T h a t Jesus C hrist is born.
— N eg ro s p iritu a l
WA S N T T H A T A M IG H T Y D A Y
V
I
T
-root- there at the star!
I , am ong the least.
W ill arise and take
A jou rn ey to the East.
B u t w hat shall I bring
A s a present f o r the King?
W h at s h a ll! bring to the M an g er?
I w ill bring a song,
A song that I w ill sing,
A song fo r the King
In the M an g er.
W a tch out for m y flocks,
D o not let them stray.
I am going on a jou rn ey
F a r, fa r aw ay.
B u t w hat shall I bring
A s a present f o r the C h ild ?
W h at shall I bring to the M an g er?
I w ill bring a lam b.
G entle, m eek, and m ild ,
A lam b fo r the C h ild
In the M an g er
I ’ m just a shepherd boy.
Very poor I a m —
But I know there is
A King in Bethlehem .
Cordless
Phone
Just rfTMgine
W e 'w a<tuaSy
stretched the
convenience at the
telephone W th th e
F C 7 2 0 0 cordless,
you can make or
receive id ls from
anywhere up to
70 0 feet away
Now just $159 95
($60 off) Offer
expires Dec. 31.
,982
(No strings attached.)
Other gift ideas:
W h at shall I bring
A s a present ju s t f o r H im ?
W hat shall I bring to the M an g er?
1 w ill bring my heart
A n d give m y heart to H im
I w ill give m y heart
T o the M an g er.
— Langston Hughes
Pac-man Phone
The perfect repkea of the
current rage Your kid* w #
absolutely eat it up $64 95
Flip-Phone“ II
IhAtch them flip out over this
fun styled, easy lo-uee. ter
nfcc grft for Christmas $64 96
Solitäre“ I
Ever Wished for a phone that
could answer cals, bu' not
make them 7 Stop wishing
Here it « $17 96
asn’ t that a m ighty day
W h en Jesus Christ was born?
Star shone in the East,
Star shone in the East,
Star shone in the East
W hen Jesus Christ was born!
— N egro sp iritu al
/-L j-kPHone
U lldm aR T
asavefoe uaf • Wa«t.^we squv* • Grssham • NeMoro • Any vaagr
La Grand* • Hart» Shoopng Can* «Udanrive» WASH CrMiee
Camar Mas • Cam«
CHaoeey kM<S| Mta C« Ai or*e re—r.X
mcaufk « i.W - » .> lt o , W - i V U C
I
I