Will the coronavirus redefine the celebration of Christmas 2020 in Ghana and beyond?

Notice of Monday, December 21, 2020

Journalist: GNA

12/21/2020

Christians in Ghana, for centuries, have joined the rest of the world each year to celebrate Christmas on December 25, to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, the founder of the religion.

Christmas, which means “Mass on Christ’s Day or Mass of Christ,” is primarily observed as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world.

Context

For centuries, Christmas has been celebrated not on a single day, but as an entire season in some parts of the world.

Although the date may be an estimate, the tradition of observing it dates back to at least the fourth century.

Christmas is often marked by pagan practices such as using a Yule log, decorating with holly and the like, demonstrating Santa’s love, decorating with red flowers and evergreen trees of Christmas.

The “evergreen tree” is a symbol of eternal life, the “candles” are an image that Christ is the light of the world, “Holly” speaks of thorns in Christ’s crown and “red” is a color of Christmas which speaks of the blood and death of Christ.

The “gifts” recall the gifts of the Magi to the baby Jesus and each of them speaks of a component of his incarnation, majesty in life, the most bitter agony in death and him as a perfect gift from God to the Lord. ‘humanity.

The “bells” are associated with the dissemination of news, or Christ being the good news for Christians.

“Santa Claus” is a Dutch word which means “Sinter Claus” or “Saint Nicholas” in English. Saint Nicholas was an alleged bishop of a church in Asia Minor (the modern country of Turkey).

He would have realized some desperate needs of his congregation, and of a family having to sell their children into slavery, so he spent a night to leave money, which was gold in a stocking on their doorstep.

Activities

In this special season, Christians share Christmas cards, food and drink, baskets, dresses and shoes, among others, to families, neighbors, orphanages and other poor and needy people.

They are also encouraged to give gifts to Jesus or the Church, to those who cannot repay, to engage in traditions that indicate the ways of Christ, to read scriptures, and to thank God for the brilliance. from the sun.

Celebrating Christmas is more enjoyed with the sharing of nine lessons from Holy Bible memory verses and songs such as “Silent Night |”, “Mary’s Boy Child”, “Oh Christmas Tree :,” Oh Holy Night. , “The First Noel”, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”, “Joy to the World” and “Jingle Bells”.
During this season, the celebration varies from country to country.

How is it celebrated in Ghana and beyond?

In Ghana, Christians attend church service, eat and dine, visit extended families, visit places of interest such as beaches, movies, shopping malls, etc. and dress beautifully for outings.

In the Czech Republic, women turn their backs to the door of the house and throw a shoe over their shoulders on Christmas Eve. If the shoe lands with the heel toward the door, she might as well cancel her Tinder account and buy more cats.

But, if the front of the shoe points to the door, she kisses her parents goodbye and can plan a wedding.

Brooms and similar cleaning supplies from Norway’s witnesses are hidden, and the men draw their guns in the night on Christmas Eve.

According to an old belief, it is time for witches and evil spirits to emerge.

Some Armenians choose to fast a week before Christmas, then break the fast with a light Christmas Eve meal called “khetum,” which includes; rice, fish, chickpeas, yogurt soup, dried nuts and grape jelly desserts. So this is a great time for those who want to lose weight to visit during this season.

A number of South Africans like to celebrate Christmas with foods like fried plump caterpillars and fuzzy caterpillars (Emperor Moth).

Ukrainians, on the other hand, are using fake cobwebs to cover their trees, in the hopes that it will bring them the chance to be prosperous and that they will never have financial problems for the next year.

Venezuela is also closing the streets of its capital, “Caracas”, so that everyone can go to church on Christmas Eve.

Impact of COVID-19 on Christmas

However, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has placed many restrictions on people, including; a ban on social gatherings in restaurants, religious services, pubs, nightclubs, beaches, business conferences and meetings.
Despite this, people suffered financial loss due to impulse buying ahead of guidelines for partial or full COVID-19 lockdown in respective countries, and parents had to resort to private teachers for their wards who are at home for months. the prohibition of schooling.

In addition, companies completely or partially collapsed and workers were made redundant, while those who were still at work received half of their wages or small allowances for their maintenance.

In offices where employees worked from home and were fully paid, they were missing either their usual meeting sitting allowance, car maintenance allowance or transportation allowance and other workplace petty cash funds. , which supported them in various ways.

Families reportedly fail to afford Christmas tours to some countries that still ban travel and social gatherings, as well as their usual outings to places of interest.

Families have lost their breadwinners and strongest pillars to COVID-19 and have so far not come to terms with the reality.

Some still wallow in grief, disbelief, and despair as a result.
With all this and more, the question is whether Christians who are also suffering from respiratory disease will enjoy celebrating the holiday amid the usual resources and rituals that have been denied them with worldwide success.

In Ghana, general elections, their results, and disagreements between political parties, their supporters and the Election Commission, could also affect the usual ways in which Christians celebrate Christmas.

Ms. Theresah Sekpla, an elementary school teacher who receives half of her monthly salary outside of extra lessons, said: “Providing a three square meal for my five year old son has even become a challenge, so how can I thinking about getting a new dress? for me this season of releases.

Nana Yaw Akoto, a former hotel worker who was fired as a result of the outbreak, said: “I was the breadwinner for my family of five, but now I’m home. , the last thing that came to mind is the celebration of Christmas. We were asked to stay home until things improved to respond. This Christmas for me has not arrived.

Ms Mavis Ohene Korang, a dressmaker said that while she had lost most of her clients’ loyalty due to the ban on social gatherings, outings and churches, she was about to see the light of day in Christmas, and for her, that was the most important. thing.