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In the family —
     Christmas is considered as a “family gathering” and a time of sharing for immediate and extended family. Any activity before, during, and after Christmas is centered on “gathering.”

     Having homemade ice cream on Christmas evening, when we come home from church, developed into a special family tradition.

     Several days before Christmas, we usually make or buy snacks for friends and neighbors (including Moslem neighbors).

     Holiday meals in our home are an inter-cultural experience. My wife Helen is of Irish-English background, raised in South Carolina. My brother-in-law, Steve, is Anglo and was raised by a Native American family. And I am of Mexican heritage. As a family, we are thrice blessed with cultural traditions.

     At the beginning of every December, we buy toys and clothing for our children. We also talk about the birth of Jesus. We parents buy flowers to decorate the house and plan a special meal that all will enjoy. It is a time of rejoicing at the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

     We don’t like to give presents at Christmastime. I think the big present that should be focused on is Christ’s coming into the world.

In the congregation —
     In many churches there is a vigil all night on Christmas Eve. We have a special worship service. The sermon deals with Jesus’ birth and how this blessed and benefitted us lost people. There are festive meals and some churches prepare dramas.

     In Salatiga, there is a worship service on the big square, starting at 4:00 a.m. in which all churches in Salatiga (including Roman Catholic) take part. People come with mats and umbrellas and candles. For that occasion the mosque remains silent, so in a way they help.

     Sometimes the pastor announces two weeks before the holiday that the congregation will eat a Christmas meal together. At other times we eat our meal at home after the church service.

     Children’s puppet presentations are becoming a part of the holiday activities at our church. The children design, create, paint, and dress their own hand puppets. As a means for the children to remember their lines, they participate in the writing and re-writing of the scripts. This practice results in some interesting contemporary references in traditional presentations. This program is an opportunity to invite children and friends to a church activity.

     Usually a special day is set aside to fellowship with less privileged members of our society, such as orphans in homes (orphanages) or with street children.

     Christmas Eve serves as an opportunity for those brothers and sisters who have resentments/shortcomings with one another to reconcile and forgive each other.