Well, yesterday was our church's "Savior of the Nations, Come: Christmas Around the World" family event. We had an opening service with some multi-cultural music, but also favorites like "Joy to the World," "Jesus Loves the Little Children," and "Go Tell it On the Mountain." Children dressed up in costumes to represent different areas of the world, and they all knelt at the manger, where we adored the infant king with the hymn "We Praise You and Acknowledge You" (LSB 941). We also emphasized that we are called to go out and share the Good News of our Savior to the ends of the earth. It was neat to see each person in the pew waving a flag to represent a different region. Then families went from room to room stamping their passport as they saw how different regions celebrate our Savior's birth. In the Asia room, we made paper decorations and ate egg rolls and potstickers; in the Latin American room we made lanterns and God's eyes and even broke open a pinata; in the African room we ate goat meat and a rice dish; in the Europe room we learned about the Advent wreath and St. Nicholas Day; in the Carribean Islands room we made feather masks and tried a sorrel drink; and in the British Isles room we had wassail and made candles to place in a window. Are there any multi-cultural celebrations where you live? I live in St. Louis, and just this weekend alone (if I wouldn't have been busy helping with the event at our church), we could have gone to a German celebration in Maeystown, Illinois, or a Los Posadas parade in St. Charles. Share your stories about what is done in your area to tell about customs and celebrations in other parts of the world!
* Please let me know if you'd like to see where I found my images. I have a long list of credits!
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