November 24, 2010

• the “hot diggities” of the Madagascan Christmas Season

  Going through last year’s blogs from this time of year i came across my list of “hot diggities” of the Canadian Christmas season, listed no doubt because we were finally enjoying a Canadian Christmas after a few years celebrating in hotter climes.

  In order that our readership not think there’s nothing good (other than the warm outdoor temps, which seemingly all Canadians think is the epitome of well-being) about celebrating Christmas on a tropical island i will attempt to make a list of “hot diggities” for this locale… if i can think of any. haha. I will say that i much prefer celebrating Christmas in Canada, and i’m not ashamed to say so either.

  Great things about the Christmas season in Madagascar though, include:

  - the almost complete absence of Christmas commercialism. It does appear at the grocery store in the form of gaudy over sized tree decorations and hideous garland, but the materialism that is rammed down throats in Canada is almost non existent here. In fact, you can shop for Christmas gifts and whatever else you need the day before and mostly feel like it’s any other day of the year. 
  - the lack of hearing the same Christmas songs ad nauseum. (is that a positive?)
  - fine, i’ll say it although through gritted teeth: the warm weather. I do confess i prefer white Christmases to hot and green ones. I’m trying to look on the positive side though so… i enjoy sitting outdoors during the day and basking in the perfect 24C on the deck, listening to the tropical birds chirp in the trees while my children play outside without having to don heavy winter clothing.
  - outdoor birthday parties for rambunctious birthday boys! using the pool! using water toys!
  - the ability to push aside the cultural things that seem to be inseparable to Christmas in Canada: Christmas music, shopping, gifts and parties, decorations, all the ‘fun’ things that have turned over the years into obligations, family gatherings, etc. and really focus on the simplicity of the Gospel message for this time of year.
  - the excuse of hot weather to not bake hoards of Christmas baking that wont possibly get eaten. and the fact that i only have a fridge freezer that will soon be full of Manitoban Pork Sausage (Woot, woot!)
  - the ability to see first hand how less fortunate people are living and celebrating the season, and the opportunity to bless them abundantly – giving to them directly rather than through an organization.
  - the ability to learn first hand how other cultures celebrate Christmas and the freedom to try new things instead of doing this the same every year because it’s always done that way.
  - BBQing ‘beer can chicken’ for Christmas dinner. yum.
  - fresh fruit (mangoes, litchi, bananas, passion fruit, etc. etc.) for Christmas breakfasts.
  - Christmas dinner out on the deck. so nice!
  - sitting fireside… outside! with shorts and a t-shirt… eating Christmas cookies.
  - Going swimming every day during Christmas holidays. And/or spending a chunk of Christmas holidays at the coast.
  - Celebrating God at Christmas with people from many different countries and cultures, united in one faith.
  - no icy road driving. no warming up vehicles (although our neighbours both do this for 15 minutes prior to ever going out on the road because apparently it helps the vehicle drive better if it’s warmed up from it’s standing 25C temperature…) no getting stuck in snow drifts in -30C.
  - power cuts giving candlelight a whole new significance and meaning. – the excuse therefore to have many candles all around the house.
  - the cultural and familial freedom to create our own family traditions for holidays.
  - no real tree to remember to water…
  - no hockey games to battle for the attention of my husband. haha
  - early mornings with glorious sunshine (as opposed to dark mornings and early nights)
  - an abundance of fresh flowers outside and in.
  - a lack of Christmas events to attend, which means the events that are planned are attended by everyone we know, thereby giving a great excuse for socializing.

  Anyway, i know it’s not even December, but since we’ll be lounging at the beach this Christmas holiday and lounging with the lemurs in the rain forest as well i reckon i wont have as much time for Christmassy blogs this year. Besides that fact, i hear in Manitoba these days everyone is already feeling Christmassy since there’s snow and cold weather. Thus, my blog entry wont seem as out of place as i feel currently writing it.

  Further to Christmas blogging, however, i’m hoping to arm-wrestle my brothers, their wives and my parents to write guest-blogger entries so you can get a visitor’s perspective of life and Christmas here on the Red Island. I’m wondering whether i’ll need to offer incentives to get them to do so though… any suggestions?

  11 more days until Judah wakes up to find his Grandparents in the next room.

  • 12:06 pm
  • 2 Comments