I wish you a 'MERRY CHRISTMAS'
By zandi458
@zandi458 (28102)
Malaysia
December 14, 2009 1:50pm CST
I am sure many are already in christmas mood now as in a couple of days we will be celebrating this joyous festival. Everyone especially the christians are now busy preparing to celebrate this special occasion according to their home grown traditions.
As usual we in Malaysia are gearing towards a big bash for this religious festival by having open houses to cater for well wishers who comes to join in the festivity. It is a normal practice in many Malaysian christian homes to prepare foods in large quantities to cater for well-wishers who come in from morning to dawn. There will be free flow of foods and drinks for all to enjoy. Christmas is the only day that I meet unfamiliar faces in my house as everyone regardless of known or unknown are welcome to our christmas open house. This is something unique in our Malaysian style of celebrating any religious festivals. It is free for all. I do not know where else in this world do they have this sort of 'open houses'. How do you celebrate your christmas in your home or country? 
9 people like this
21 responses
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
15 Dec 09
I’m coming!!!LOL this is unique and I’ve not heard of a completely open house during festivities, but its just great!
Christians are a minority in India but that does not stop us from celebrating it the big way. It has something to do with colonial hangover, something to do with the onset of new year celebrations and also something to do with aping the west LOL but all in all, its very cheerful and merry and colourful all around. Its winter now so the families can actually go on outings to and picnics so on Christmas day, at least in Kolkata, you’ll see hordes of families and friends out to have a good day at zoos and plazas and parks and nearby places…all in their winter finery with food and fun and in the evenings, alongiwth the churches, the main market areas will be illuminated with stars and trees and Santas…of course I plan to buy my cakes on the 24th coz 25th is going to be one mad rush at the cake shops too!
BTW…a very merry Christmas to you and your family.
1 person likes this
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
16 Dec 09
Oh! I'll try Deepak, but the chances are very slim
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58676)
• Delhi, India
15 Dec 09
Sudipta!
Please spare some share of cake for me on 24th/25th December.
.1 person likes this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Dec 09
Maybe Christmas has a tint of western influence but again we are christians and christmas is something meaningful to all who profess christianity. Interesting to learn how people in your country celebrate christmas alongside the christians. After all it is a holiday season and everyone should join in the festivity. Wish you a merry christmas and a happy coming new year.
@dpk262006 (58676)
• Delhi, India
15 Dec 09
Hi Zandi!
We as such do not celebrate Christmas at a larger scale or so religiously. However, ours is cosmopolitan city and we keep enjoying all the festivals, irrespective of the fact whether they belong to our religion or not. Children love to have some gifts by Santa on the day of Christmas and they love wearing Santa caps and going for eating out. Many of us buy Chirstmas tree and decorate it. Normally, we do not visit Church, yet sometimes children insist on visiting Church, as they remain curious to know what happens inside a Church and specially during festival time.
We wish you a very happy and merry Christmas and hopefully, you will have great time during the festival.
Deepak
Deepak@dpk262006 (58676)
• Delhi, India
15 Dec 09
Hi Zandi!
Yes, indeed it's always joyful to enjoy festivals from other religions. We also wish you a Merry Christmas and a very HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010.
1 person likes this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Dec 09
How great to know that despite having different beliefs, others still respect this great religious festival. Children enjoy this occasion most as they share the delight of getting gifts from santa. Father christmas regular appearances in shopping malls is a joyful sight for the young ones. I wish you a happy holiday and a happy new year.
@alottodo (3056)
• Australia
15 Dec 09
How refreshing to see some parents let their children to experience other cultures festivals I let mine do the same and how good it was! today they can relate to other cultures whithout blinking an eye for them is just another day in our wonderful world.
1 person likes this
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
22 Dec 09
It is pretty much the same here. My mother would host the party one year. And her friends would host the party on other years. They take turns to host the parties. And we would all head down for a good hearty meal of bake turkey and other Christmas savories!
But there will always be a small party for family only on christmas itself. Either in the morning or the evenings.
@alottodo (3056)
• Australia
15 Dec 09
Hi zandi how nice to hear from you again and what a lovely topic! when I was growing up in my parents house [ Uruguay][ South America] Christmas eve and Christmas day was an open house for family and friends and those who did not have a place to go to celebrate every one was welcome! We cooked a lot! I loved to join my mum and friends in the kitchen [ we also had a restaurant] so there was a lot of cooking going on!We used to decorate our big dinning room and front garden and wear our best out fit to great everyone it was a wonderful time! Today we live in Australia but our tradition still lives on. On Christmas day we get together with people from diferent part of the world who have no family here some speak english and some don't but who cares! every one bring a typical dish from their country and we all celebrate together after all we still keep an open house and everyone is welcome.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Dec 09
Nice to know that you still continue the tradition of open house in your adopted country. I think it is merrier to celebrate christmas with international crowd. It is even interesting to share different cuisines from other countries. It saves cost to have a potluck christmas celebration.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
15 Dec 09
Hi zandi. What a wonderful tradition to have as far as the open house idea. Seems the times have changed though. I remember my grandmother and mother telling me that in my great-grandparents day they used to have an open house type of thing. It was the norm back then to visit people in one's neighborhood and wish a Merry Christmas. Sadly that tradition is no longer around...just too many people living in my area to afford that type of thing...not too many people even know their neighbors well and people I think would just be plain suspicious of letting strangers into their homes/apartments
1 person likes this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Dec 09
Open houses is still very much practiced in my place. Despite suffering from the bad economic situation there is always ways to make up for the celebration. I don't personally do it in my house but we have open house in my mum's place where all the siblings gather to prepare for the big feast. Everyone chip in to help in the cooking so that makes the work lighter.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
15 Dec 09
My goodness, that is very nice but alot of work & money to do that i'd think. I usually cook for my family on Christmas day, we exchange gifts & that's about it. When i had my beauty shop & antique store i had food for everybody that came in every day the week of christmas.Everyone seemed to enjoy iy but it was alot of work & money to do that to.
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
16 Dec 09
Hi I've learned something about your tradition! Thanks! That is indeed a big bash! Imagine foods and drinks flooding and everyone is welcome to join and enjoy! We don't have that tradition here in the Philippines. Maybe some homes or sectors do that but that is not a common thing here. Here in the Philippines Christmas is more of a family reunion. This is when relatives meet and enjoy togetherness and exchange gifts to another and the table is always filled with special foods and goodies. Foods are practically flooding during this day. This is also the day when the children kiss hands of adults and they are given money or gift package in exchange. This is the day when the children suddenly becomes richer than the parents . Children also make it a point to visit their godparents who have certainly prepared a special gift/cash for them.
I've learned something about your tradition! Thanks! That is indeed a big bash! Imagine foods and drinks flooding and everyone is welcome to join and enjoy! We don't have that tradition here in the Philippines. Maybe some homes or sectors do that but that is not a common thing here. Here in the Philippines Christmas is more of a family reunion. This is when relatives meet and enjoy togetherness and exchange gifts to another and the table is always filled with special foods and goodies. Foods are practically flooding during this day. This is also the day when the children kiss hands of adults and they are given money or gift package in exchange. This is the day when the children suddenly becomes richer than the parents . Children also make it a point to visit their godparents who have certainly prepared a special gift/cash for them. 
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
15 Dec 09
Wow that sounds so lovely! Unfortunately here in the West we cannot afford open houses because trouble makers would more than likely spoil it for all! I’ve always thought that Christmas should be longer than just one day, after all that planning and preparations I think it should go for at least two or three days or wouldn’t it be good for the week between Christmas and New Year to be one long party! We always go to the Children’s Christmas Mass on Christmas Eve evening and spend the next day with family. I wish you and yours -just in case I don’t get to talk to you again beforehand- A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!MAY AND LOVE AND PEACE BE WITH YOU ALL YEAR LONG.
1 person likes this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Dec 09
We cannot discount the fact that they are joy killers among the crowd but fortunately it has never happened here. Trouble can be minimized with no hard drinks served. We only have one day public holiday for christmas here and boxing day is a working day. Merry christmas and a happy new year to you too.
1 person likes this
@lynkshadow (299)
• Canada
16 Dec 09
I celebrate it similar. Family gets together and there is alot of food.
1 person likes this
@dhir11009 (12)
• Nepal
15 Dec 09
Marry Christmas! In a few days Marry Christmas is going to held. It's a great festival for the Christian world. Nepalese Christian Societies are preparing mentally and physically to celebrate the eve in the capital city of Kathmandu. Lots of people are busy to buy the Christmas trees to decorate their rooms, homes, lobbies and offices. Tomorrow, I'm going to market to buy a Christmas tree and some necessary goods for this festival. I live in the countryside. So I can't attain the mass ceremony, but we've a small Church in the village where a small group will attain the ceremony then all the members return to their home and prepare varities of food, sings, dance, drink and enjoy the feast in a group. We invite our relatives and friends to join the feast. This routine will continue until the end of invitaion. This is our tradition in my village.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Dec 09
Hi dhir, everyone puts up christmas trees in their homes long before christmas. It brightens the atmosphere with a well decorated christmas tree. I think your christmas celebration is not far different from us here as we usually attend mass before enjoying the food with family and friends.
@manojach87 (147)
• India
15 Dec 09
Thank you for the xmas wishes! i would also like to wish you the xmas wishes! Have a blast this chrismas eve!
1 person likes this
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
14 Dec 09
Merry Christmas to you also. We celebrate with whomever my family brings to our house. There is usually one or two extras.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
14 Dec 09
hi zandi458 I am now getting Christmas spirit and so I wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart. I just got through hazzle of fighting the insurance co to get my ambulance bill paid and finally the insurance guy put me in touch with the ambulance co and to my utter relief some 342.32 cents has been paid the first part of this December.so I am happy,happy,happy as I was sick to think I did not have 342.dollars and some cents.
Christmas in Malaysia sounds wonderful. we have parties and give gifts and family gatherings and lots of good food, and Cristmas carolers too. Some families also have an open house but not very many. It is a family day for sure. we here at Gold crest will have our party this coming Friday. I am so happy now that I do not owe anything. wow.
1 person likes this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Dec 09
That is a great x'mas gift getting paid in time for this christmas season. I hope you have a great party time. I am looking forward to unwrapping all the gifts that I expect to get from my kids and siblings. Yes...am in for another great christmas this year.
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
15 Dec 09
Hey zandi! And Merry Christmas to you too! It depends on what is going
on in my life how I celebrate the holiday! And right now things are not
going too well. I have quite a few very serious medical issues and a
fight for medical insurance with the State of NY! And my boyfriend's
job lays him off for three weeks without pay before Christmas because
he works in a college cafeteria and the school will be closed! So it
really isn't quite the Merriest Christmas for us! But, we will see
how we can make it the best we can! So Happy Holidays to you and your
family! Hugs, Opal/Leslie
1 person likes this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 Dec 09
How sad things doesn't turn out to your expectation. Regardless of what happen we all should look forward to a joyous christmas. Maybe this year you have a low key celebration but hopefully the new year brings lots of good luck in your life. Lets hope and pray. Wishing you a merry christmas and a very happy new year.
@savypat (20216)
• United States
14 Dec 09
I know in India and Mexico they have many open house parties, I don't know if they are for Christmas in the Christian homes. There are many other cultures who celebrate with open houses. It's a very nice custom to my way of thinking.
@suzzy3 (8341)
•
16 Dec 09
You sound a very generous friendly bunch of people.In England it is customary to invite people you know and get along with.As you never now what strangers are like just strolling through your home.We would be worried they would come back and burgal us later.We do have a nice time and enjoy ourselves.we have had to many burgalars round our way to trust anyone we don't know,besides I think we must be a more private people.
@kawalnarang (1095)
• Trinidad And Tobago
14 Dec 09
Wish u and yours,The Very Best,,Have fun, A Lot of Fun,Say Hello to the family
