We send you our love and best wishes for a restful and blessed Christmas - Chris, Alison and Luke
Christmas in Chile
…is certainly going to be very different from Christmas in the UK. For one, we are not overwhelmed with Christmas decorations, except in the shopping malls. Santa Claus seems especially uncomfortable in the height of summer! Chileans are adorning their inside of their homes with Christmas trees (all artificial – we are a long way from a ready supply of real ones…) and nativity scenes, and many also adorn the outside of their homes with Christmas lights. It seems that most celebrations, presents and meals take place on Christmas Eve, with Christmas Day itself used for relaxing (and recovery!).
A tradition peculiar to Iquique is that, in the run up to Christmas, companies use lorries to transport presents to their workers, and on the way throw out sweets to children from the back of the vehicles. We are also told to expect convoys of vehicles to tour the streets playing loud music. It is traditional to serve pan de pascua (Christmas bread) and cola de mono, a Christmas liqueur – and it would obviously be disrespectful not to join in…
We will be enjoying the heat of Iquique over Christmas, and will tell you about our first Chilean Christmas in our next full-length newsletter!
Into our world
as into Mary’s womb…
Come, Jesus.
Into the forgotten places,
as into the stable…
Come, Jesus.
Into the lives of the poor, bringing hope;
into the lives of the powerful, bringing caution;
into the lives of the weary, bringing rest;
into the lives of the wise, bringing restlessness;
and into our lives and longings,
whatever our circumstances and whoever we are…
Come, Jesus.
This is the good news:
Christ is coming,
and blessed are those who wait on God.
Wild Goose Worship Group, adapted