Christmas in Chile
I still remember how strange everything seemed to me my first Christmas in Chile. When I walked downtown and looked into a store window, instead of seeing a “winter wonderland,” I saw a beach scene, palm trees with ornaments on them, and mannequins in bathing suits! Since Chile is south of the equator, Christmas comes in the summer. Talk about “culture shock!” I mean, seeing a Santa Clause in Bermudas and Hawaiian shirt is a little hard to get used to. It just didn’t “feel” like Christmas! But over the years, I guess we’ve gotten used to it. In fact, my kids think it’s great that we can go to the beach on Christmas Day!
When we first came to Chile, nearly 30 years ago, not many decorated their houses. But now many houses are decorated with lights and Christmas trees in the windows, even in November. I love decorating, and some of my favorite decorations are my manger scenes. We were given a beautiful, olive wood manger scene from Bethlehem for our wedding, so that is always a focal point in our home. Imagine my surprise when a visitor looking at my manger scene told me I had it all wrong! He said that baby Jesus shouldn’t be in the manger because He wasn’t born yet; I had to wait until midnight on Christmas Eve to put Him in there! Most manger scenes anywhere in town have an empty manger, but I still keep my baby Jesus in the manger - and nearly every year someone comments on it!
Another thing I never saw happen in the USA is that during the month of December, many businesses or organizations do a Christmas “parade”. Basically they have one decorated pick-up truck with a Santa and some “elves” followed by a bunch of cars that go through the neighborhoods honking and throwing out candy to the children. More than once it happened that while we were in a church service, the children would hear the horns and RACE out of the church to get candy!
In Chile, Christmas is a big time for family. The family, many times including grandparents, uncles and aunts, cousins, etc., gets together on Christmas Eve to have a special dinner around 10:00 pm. Then at midnight the gifts are opened.
Since Chile is a religious country, predominately Catholic, Christmas time presents a great opportunity. In fact, many Catholics only go to church on Christmas and Easter! So we have always tried to have a Christmas program the Sunday before Christmas. We try to have all the children from our Sunday School participate so that their family will come watch them. One Christmas I told the mothers that the little children would dress up like animals to be in the manger scene. That night, one child came dressed as a GIRAFFE! Since then I’ve learned to be more specific! Over the years, many that may have never come to church otherwise, have heard the gospel in the Christmas program.
A few years ago, I got the idea from a missionary friend in Brazil to have a Ladies’ Christmas Tea, with the idea that our ladies invite their unsaved friends or neighbors to come and enjoy the tea, but also to hear a Gospel presentation. My neighbor, Ana, went with me a few years back; that was her first time in an evangelical church. Just recently, in August, the Lord gave fruit, and Ana received Christ as her Savior!
Yes, there are some differences in our Christmas here in Chile, but people are the same. They all need Christ! And Christmas is a wonderful opportunity to share Christ with others, whether it’s taking Christmas cookies to neighbors along with a gospel tract, helping a needy family with groceries, or inviting a friend to the Christmas cantata. Ask the Lord who YOU can share Christ with this Christmas!
