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We enjoy sharing Christmas traditions with our friends. Here are some
photos from Christmas 2007 in Kunming. Click above
for more Christmas photos.
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Right after Thanksgiving (at the end of November) we invite
a handful of students over to help us decorate our Christmas tree. Here is
the 2007 group in front of their lovely, decorated tree. |
In addition to colored lights and "traditional" balls, we
fill our tree with items that remind us of the most special events of each
year. Michael explains our family history while handing out these annual
ornaments. |
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A few friends also went along to Nordica's annual Christmas
bazaar. There, people sell Christmas crafts and decorations, as well as
food and gifts. There are also special activities for children. |
Each Sunday of Advent (the four weeks before Christmas),
students and friends help us light an advent candle after hearing part of
the Christmas story. Then it is back to a game, card creation, or a movie.
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Lucy bravely helps Vivian prepare pancakes while other
other guests wait for this traditional American treat. |
Everyone enjoyed the Christmas cookies Vivian prepared for
guests this night, and Andrew was pleased that people left some for him! |
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Christmas is about love, so the best way to celebrate is to share. We do
this by going with students and friends to public events and by inviting
them to "Advent" parties in our home. There is plenty of music, food,
traditions and more. It's great fun for all, including our dog Gimli!
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One Sunday night we created hand-made Christmas cards for
friends. We played board games on two other Advent evenings, and watched
"It's a Wonderful Life" a few days before Christmas. |
Christmas morning is family time. Here, wrapping paper and
tissue clutter the floor while Gimli sniffs an amazingly similar dog
Vivian found in the US, before it gets added to our Christmas tree. |
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On Christmas Eve,
ten students and their friends joined us for this music-filled
celebration in downtown Kunming. Unlike the masses outside, this overflow
crowd got a taste of the Christmas spirit and heard about the event that
split time between "B.C." and "A.D." |
After the
meeting, we were pelted with silly-string as we passed through thousands
of chaotic, joyful young people who were supposedly celebrating the
"silent night" (as it's called in Chinese). To remember the evening we
took this photo after enjoying ice cream at McDonalds. |
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The last photos are of a celebration we led on campus,
Christmas day. We sang favorite Christmas songs, watched a cartoon, and
passed out a hundred prizes while playing Christmas Bingo. Judging from
the smiles and the email we got afterward, dozens of people had a great
time! We can't think of a better way to spend Christmas!
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