The Joy Of Christmas
By Sister Tammy Saberon SSC
Most of us spend Christmas at home with our family and friends. But Sister Tammy has spent this special season these last two years far from home in Myanmar. Here she tells us how she celebrated Christmas in this Buddhist country.
Myanmar, formerly Burma, is a Buddhist country, but Myitkyina (MIJ-in-awe) Diocese has the largest population of Catholics. When I came here in 2001 I lived in the small village of Edin. My first Christmas was quite different from what I was familiar with. Carol singers went from house to house to raise funds, like at home, but I didn’t see any Christmas decorations in Catholic homes before or after Christmas. The only ones to put them up were the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMMs), with whom I lived, who did so only three days before the feast. The catechetical school’s chapel also had some decorations, including a crib.
‘Orphaned’ Jesus
However, there was no crib in the convent chapel so I suggested to Sr Mary Lu, the superior, that we make one. With the help of student catechists we built a crib made of bamboo and grass. I felt sad when I discovered that the only figure available was the Baby Jesus – and with a broken arm. But as I prayed and reflected I found real meaning in it. Jesus was an ‘orphan,’ with a broken arm and with no animals around him to give him warmth. I thought of the many people around the world deprived of the necessities of life and of warmth of love, especially the abandoned. Here in northern Myanmar my heart aches to see children without warm clothes and with only slippers on their feet during the cool season. I wondered how they could keep themselves warm in houses made of bamboo and grass, with holes in the walls and floors. Nevertheless, they survive and, thank God, have been given the strength to endure the cold season when it can be as low as 15°C.
The Christmas celebration was simple. People didn’t have a big meal at home but gathered in the village center. After a short program each family opened their packed lunch and had their Christmas meal together. Later there were parlor games for both children and adults. Everyone went home happy.
A treat for my heart
The following year I knew I wouldn’t be in Myitkyina for Christmas but decided to celebrate it in advance with a meal for poor children in Tang Phre and Alam, two villages where the Xaverian Sisters have communities. The Sisters welcomed my offer joyfully.
I hired a vehicle on 7 December to take us to Tang Phre, 45 kms away. We were to leave at 1pm but the car didn’t arrive till 3. The road was very bad and we didn’t reach Tang Phre till 5. The children had been waiting for two hours in the hall and the Sisters were worried that we had a breakdown on the way. There was no electricity so they decided to feed the children before nightfall. There were 70 from the village, aged 7 to 10, and 27 boarders from remote mountain villages with the Sisters. We took photos before it got dark and then lit candles. The children sat on the floor and received plastic bags with their rice, meat and vegetables. They got oranges and candies for dessert, which they could bring home and share with their families. We had planned to have some songs and dancing but because it was dark by now we sent the children home after they’d eaten.
Next morning the boarders and some of the village children came at 8:30 for a dancing session. I taught them the Macarena and line dancing. They loved the Macarena and learned it very quickly. We finished at around 10 and left for Alam, halfway back to Myitkyina, and arrived at 11:30.
One last Christmas Party
The children were waiting for us at the parish hall where we visitors had lunch. Then we went to the study hall where the boarders sang some songs. Then the children, about 50 from the village and 20 boarders, had their meal. I thought there was too much rice on the plates of the smaller children but was amazed to see some of them eat a second serving. The children here too got oranges and candies, which they happily brought home with them.
Most people in this part of Myanmar eat only twice a day, breakfast at around 8 and dinner at 5. They seldom eat fish or any kind of meat because they can’t afford it. So the simple meal we gave, with pork and chicken, was a real treat. The Xaverian Sisters, who prepared it, and myself, felt the real joy of Christmas in seeing the joy of the children.
Not just in gifts and cards
For my first two Christmases in Myitkyina I was the only Filipino and the only Columban Sister. While working in the Philippines, in Hong Kong and in mainland China, I used to get loads of Christmas cards and gifts galore. Here in Myanmar, I received very few cards and letters, mostly from Columban Sisters, and a few gifts from the FMM Sisters. I felt sad at first for not being remembered. Later I realized that these things aren’t essential in celebrating the Mystery of the Child Jesus being born in a manger. It’s in simplicity and in being with people who have nothing, but who can celebrate the Christmas Liturgy together and who have their Christmas meal together, that I discovered the real joy, peace and love that Christmas brings.