BAHRAIN’S vibrant Christian community is preparing to celebrate Christmas today with mixed emotions, with some feeling hard to rejoice as the war rages in Gaza.
For some, the traditional celebrations will be on a sombre note, while for others the occasion marking the birth of Jesus will be a sign of hope of a better future filled with peace, unity and coexistence.
As reported in the GDN yesterday, officials in Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus, said Christmas celebrations have been cancelled in view of the Israel-Hamas war and the thousands of Palestinian lives lost.
There is no Christmas tree in Manger Square which traditionally draws thousands of worshippers and tourists from around the world.
“The National Evangelical Church (NEC) Arabic Language Congregation celebrated Christmas yesterday by praying for the people of Palestine who continue to suffer,” NEC Arabic Congregation pastor Reverend Hani Aziz told the GDN.
“Prayers were offered for continued peace in our beloved kingdom and the region, as well as peace in all areas where violence is raging at this present time.”
He added that the sermon touched on the importance of making peace with God to be able to make peace with ourselves – which is the only way to live peacefully with one another.
“May all mankind awaken to the realisation that these atrocities are unacceptable. We should all work together to bring an end to this unnecessary tragedy.”
Echoing the sentiments, KIMSHealth Group executive director for Operations and Projects Jacob Thomas said: “These are difficult times in the region with the ongoing war and its impact on thousands of lives.
“It’s vital to push the message of love and peace all over the world to ensure we live in harmony.
“We all need to keep the Christmas alive in our hearts and pray for a prosperous and peaceful 2024.”
Various churches in Bahrain have lined up a number of services to mark the occasion.
However, for expatriates who haven’t gone home for the holidays and are celebrating Christmas in the kingdom, it’s a time to spend with loved ones.
“This year, the festive season took us on a special journey as we visited Bahrain’s Christmas fairs,” said 38-year-old German Inga Ruud, who moved to Bahrain with her American husband, Joshua Ruud, aged 29, two years ago.
Their journey to the kingdom was prompted by her husband’s information technology job bringing them far away from their respective homelands, but the two found a way to make it work.
“While the sandy shores of Bahrain may seem like an unconventional place to celebrate Christmas, our expat experience here has added a heart-warming twist to our holiday festivities,” said the Seef-based expat who attained her diploma in nutritional science.
The two transformed their cosy abode into a winter wonderland, featuring twinkling lights, ornaments and a beautifully decorated Christmas tree.
“The effort we put into our decorations serves as a comforting reminder of the traditions we hold dear, which connects us to our roots even when we are thousands of miles away,” she said.
“What makes Christmas different in Bahrain is the country’s diverse and welcoming community – all celebrating the spirit of the season,” said Ms Inga.
Filipino expat Dhan Belan celebrated Christmas Eve with her family.
“In the Filipino community, our main celebration was yesterday, Christmas Eve – we call it Noche Buena,” the 27-year-old Juffair-based standard operating procedures specialist told the GDN.
Noche Buena is a Christmas Eve celebration where family and friends gather to eat, drink, be merry and celebrate the birth of Jesus.
“My mother cooked a delicious meal,” said Ms Belan who has lived in Bahrain for four years.
She admitted that the Christmas season in Bahrain has grown on her throughout the years, as the twinkling lights and Christmas decorations across the island make getting in the holiday spirit much easier.
“We attended the 4am mass at Sacred Heart Church which reminds us of back home,” she said.
British expat Joanne Curran, who works as a teacher, admitted that the most important tradition on Christmas in Bahrain is perfecting her Christmas dinner.
“Every year, I wake up at 5am to prepare the family dinner,” she said.
“Sometimes, it’s a struggle to find the perfect English ingredients for the dinner, so you have to shop around a couple of supermarkets to find everything.”
However, Ms Curran explained that the journey to find the perfect Christmas ingredients makes her Christmas dinner in Bahrain much more special.
julia@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))