So This is Christmas?

No, this is not a post about whether or not it might be difficult to be away from our family and friends during the holidays. You can probably figure that one out yourself. No pity party.
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Yes, this is a post about why I can walk around town and not tell that it will be Christmas tomorrow. No gaudy decorations (no classy ones, either.) No Christmas carols being gently piped outside so that when you walk around you'll be in the spirit to spend money. No unusual rushing, no children crying about what they want, no parents frantically trying to buy presents for family and friends.
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Several weeks ago on FaceBook there was a friendly battle about whether it was too early to decorate your home. So as I watched the comments on FaceBook and looked around Gulu, I kept thinking that it must be too early. Okay, it is still too early,  But here we are - Christmas is tomorrow. It must still be too early. The only sign in town that something is different is that there are more people on the streets. This is because villagers have just harvested their crops and have come into town for shopping and to celebrate. And live chickens are being sold on street corners for dinner on Christmas.

Still, I wait for Christmas to arrive.

I looked forward to church last Sunday. I love Christmas carols. But no; no carols were sung. It was explained to me that the celebration of Christ's birth happens on Christmas day. On that day, people wear the newest clothes that they have. Some even stay home, I've been told, because of their lack of a new dress or suit. I've been told that on Christmas the church services will be very special with Christmas music, dances, and skits. I'm looking forward to participating in this tomorrow, even though I don't have a new dress.

I haven't quite decided if I like the way things are done here with respect to the celebration of Christmas. I could conclude that this is a better way, focusing on the day that Jesus was born. That would be easy. "Yes, that is what Christmas is all about," I would say. Too easy.

Things are just different here with respect to Christmas, just like they are with just about everything else. That is just a fact. Not good, not bad. It is just the way it is.

Have a Merry Christmas wherever, whenever, and however you celebrate.