Christmas Season- The Spirit is alive
IT is still weeks away, but melodies of Bonny M’s ‘…Mary’s Boy Child, Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day… are a commonplace.<br>
By Joel Ogwang
IT is still weeks away, but melodies of Bonny M’s ‘…Mary’s Boy Child, Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day… are a commonplace.
To many a Christian, this is a reminder of the Messiah’s birthday. Over 2,000 years have passed on, but Christians still hold this day in such high esteem that they will do anything to make it memorable.
Christmas celebrations attract superfluous spending in terms of time and resources to purchase what many envisage would make it a success.
Back to our village roots, folks mark this day by donning new clothes, shoes, galloping soda, local potent brew like malwa and waragi.
In towns and, indeed, Kampala city, the mode of celebration is not any different. However, the deviation lines include mega concerts where revered local and international musicians entertain revellers.
Popularity
According to Rt. Rev. Stephen Kazimba, the Mityana Diocese Bishop, the value Christianity attaches to the day has never waned.
“It (Christmas Day) is still as valuable as ever,†he says. “For, during Christmas, we remember God’s incarnate coming down to redeem mankind.â€
Christmas is also the day many Christians, ironically, swarm churches in large numbers. “We are sensitising people to come to the church every Sunday, not only on Christmas.â€
A stroll around Kampala and the neighbouring places revealed that preparations for Christmas are in high gear. This is in complete oblivion of the beckoning global economic meltdown that has reduced people’s spending power.
At City Abattoir, for example, 200 cattle and 50 goats and sheep are slaughtered on ordinary days, but Christmas is an exception.
Musisi Mutebi, the operations secretary, says: “It is a day when we slaughter many animals.
“We expect to double the number of animals slaughtered, just like the past years.â€
At Game supermarket, Lugogo, one of the country’s biggest shopping centre, people are already doing their Christmas shopping.
On normal days, 2,000 customers are recorded, says Dorian Straus, the general manager.
“But as Christmas sets in, we get about 3,500 customers daily.
“There are products that people particularly buy this season. These include gifts, sweets, dolls, toys, snacks and beverages,†says Straus.
Visits to the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) Entebbe, are also bulging as Christmas approaches.
David Musingo, UWEC’s education officer, says: “From December 18 to the New Year, we get about 150, 000 clients.
The re-branding from Entebbe zoo to UWEC has also increased visitation. There is no doubt that Christmas is still popular. However, over the years, it has been adulterated with criminal activities. Some people steal to make this day a success.
“But this is wrong,†he says. Christmas is entirely a day of doing good to each other. Anyone who has much can give to the poor,†Kazimba says.
IT is still weeks away, but melodies of Bonny M’s ‘…Mary’s Boy Child, Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day… are a commonplace.
To many a Christian, this is a reminder of the Messiah’s birthday. Over 2,000 years have passed on, but Christians still hold this day in such high esteem that they will do anything to make it memorable.
Christmas celebrations attract superfluous spending in terms of time and resources to purchase what many envisage would make it a success.
Back to our village roots, folks mark this day by donning new clothes, shoes, galloping soda, local potent brew like malwa and waragi.
In towns and, indeed, Kampala city, the mode of celebration is not any different. However, the deviation lines include mega concerts where revered local and international musicians entertain revellers.
Popularity
According to Rt. Rev. Stephen Kazimba, the Mityana Diocese Bishop, the value Christianity attaches to the day has never waned.
“It (Christmas Day) is still as valuable as ever,†he says. “For, during Christmas, we remember God’s incarnate coming down to redeem mankind.â€
Christmas is also the day many Christians, ironically, swarm churches in large numbers. “We are sensitising people to come to the church every Sunday, not only on Christmas.â€
A stroll around Kampala and the neighbouring places revealed that preparations for Christmas are in high gear. This is in complete oblivion of the beckoning global economic meltdown that has reduced people’s spending power.
At City Abattoir, for example, 200 cattle and 50 goats and sheep are slaughtered on ordinary days, but Christmas is an exception.
Musisi Mutebi, the operations secretary, says: “It is a day when we slaughter many animals.
“We expect to double the number of animals slaughtered, just like the past years.â€
At Game supermarket, Lugogo, one of the country’s biggest shopping centre, people are already doing their Christmas shopping.
On normal days, 2,000 customers are recorded, says Dorian Straus, the general manager.
“But as Christmas sets in, we get about 3,500 customers daily.
“There are products that people particularly buy this season. These include gifts, sweets, dolls, toys, snacks and beverages,†says Straus.
Visits to the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) Entebbe, are also bulging as Christmas approaches.
David Musingo, UWEC’s education officer, says: “From December 18 to the New Year, we get about 150, 000 clients.
The re-branding from Entebbe zoo to UWEC has also increased visitation. There is no doubt that Christmas is still popular. However, over the years, it has been adulterated with criminal activities. Some people steal to make this day a success.
“But this is wrong,†he says. Christmas is entirely a day of doing good to each other. Anyone who has much can give to the poor,†Kazimba says.