B4 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, December 23, 1998

A Kenyan Christmas has
a few signs of one here

By MARY STEEVES
FOR WEEKS, I’ve been
watching for MY idea of
signs of Christmas.

Here’s what I’ve recorded.

There was a small string
of mini lights, about 10
lights in all, not plugged in
but for sale, at Mama
Watota's and a red and
green sparkly tassle in
Henry’s weven-grass fedora
type hat.

There have been six or
seven Christmas specials in
the Nairobi Nation, includ-
ing two small pictures of
Santa Claus.

School children are on
their end-of-year holidays
and in the comer of the field
the local children practise
for the contest which will be
held in a neighbouring vil-
lage on Christmas Day,

Every day 1 hear the’
drumming and the whistle.
Then I know that they are
gathered there singing and
dancing the traditional
music. If and when an adult
comes, then they also prac-
tise the Christmas carols in
Kiswahili and the choral.
speaking of: the Christmas
story, also in Kiswahili,

They are all ages up to
about 12 or 13, Some take
tums being the conductors
and the homemade drums
are also shared, The rhythm
is followed with hands,
barefeet, hips and shoulders
as they circle and chant and
it seems so natural.

They are there for hours
every day, usually in the late
afternoon but sometimes in
the morning, just when it is
not too hot.

Usually there is a bit of an
audience sitting or lying
around on the grass, The
drumming calls ws all! It
seems as if this ‘“Christmas
practice’’ is a very good ex-
cuse for a lot of dancing and
singing!

Since I haven't been
secing many signs of Christ-
mas for myself, I have also
been asking people how

they wili be celebrating
Christmas.

I’ve been told that this is
the time of year for new
mud on the walls and floors
of the bandas. The colour of
the mud they use will
depend on their area and
their preference.

One banda I have seen
was done with a light grey.
It was very smooth with no
cracks and rounded over the
top of the wall and around
the corners.

They may also decorate
the mud with plant stencils
or by drawing with banana
sap, charcoal and the green
from the poinsetta leaves.
Further decorations could
include Success cards, bal-
loons, flowers and/or bran-
ches from the cypress tree
decorated with pieces of
cotton.

Mary Steeves

As in North America, families will be to-
gether for special food — chapati, ugali,
maandazi, chicken stew and cake. ,

As in North America,
families will be together for
special food — chapati,
ugali, maandazi,
stew and cake. Special
clothes will be worm and
special church services will
be held both on Christmas
Eve and on Christmas Day,

There will only be a few
matatus on the road and
only a few dukas open to
sell produce,

Finally I couldn't resist as-
king Anton if there was any
gift exchange on Christmas
Day. He looked a little
puzzled and then remem-
bered that at his church
sometimes there was a small
exchange under a tree.

If you wanted to give
something to someone, then
you could do it and the fol-
lowing year the recipient of
your gift would probably

give you something worth a

I's that time of year again and we want to
extend our warmest regards and most
sincere thanks.

Oi Reve

Spacinltins lind, §

4 4925 Keith Ave., Terrace BC 1 635-9474

7 ant tlerny, ae tp

fora Happy 8 a3
Holiday cart
Season! | se
With “thanks” #
for another year |
of trusted ~it—-#
. LJ @ u
service, U "

TRANSPORTATION INC.

5221 Keith Ave.

Terrace, B.C.

635-4030

chicken |

little bit more.

Next year you would go to
the tree expecting your gift.

As in Canada, Kenyans
will observe Christmas in a
variety of ways and as in
Canada, some decisions are
from choice and others are
not.

One evening, while walk-
ing across the field with a
young woman who J]

‘promote’, (I buy produce
from her duka), I asked how
she was preparing for
Christmas.

Her look and her tone of
voice aS she responded,
“Christmas,’’ suggested
that I might have just
dropped in from outer
space. ‘Yes, Christmas,’’ I
replied. Her answer
“Nothing.”’

And the Jast question that
I finally had to ask Everlyne
Javala was, ‘‘What about
Santa Claus?”

And here is her written

answer, ‘‘Here in Kenya, I °

think people are not inter-
ested in Father Christmas.
In some parts they have Fa-
ther Christmas. Like in 1990
when I went to visit my un-
cles. They told me to go to
the church to see Father
Christmas. When 1. went
there, 1 found a man in red
wooly clothes with a big
bag giving each child two
sweets. He told us his name
was Father Christmas. He
prayed and went.”

A teacher from Terrace,
Mary Steeves is in Kakam-
gega, Kenya working as a
volunteer for The Cana-
dian Harambee Education
Society.

A Canadian non profit,
non sectarian and non
political organization, it
provides scholarships for
teenage girls to attend
school.

The idea is to help young
women succeed academical-

fy.

Wishing y you a 3 Merry Season

rom

 Cris's Hair Design & Total Look

“ye sll AVEDA
concept

Full line of Aveda
products available, plus,

on sight esthetician

To Al Our Valued Customers
Thank ypu Jor your patronage

fon AB

‘a

UCK OR TWO

| Skeena Moll #303 - 4741 Lokelse Ave.
Terrace, B.C. 635-5229

May the season
bring you every
happiness this
new year!

}

"Its that time of year, time to let you know
how much we appreciate your patronage.

THANKS SO MUCH!

B & G Grocery

2701 Kalum St. Terrace, B.C.
638-7890

Alll Year Jo long!

A sincere thanks to each and
every customer who visited us this
year. See you iri ‘99|

Bandstra Transportation Systems Ltd
3111 Blakeburn St. Terrace B.C.

635-2728

MAY THE SPIRIT OF THE SEASON
SOAR WITHIN YOU

KITSUMKALUM
€

BAND COUNCIL
\Box 544, Terrace, B.C. 635-6177 7}

- Our Holiday wish Is three-

fold, we wish you peace,
love and joy.

"House OF Sim- Oi-Ghets
PO, Box $44, Hwy. 16W Terrace, B.C.
638-1629

May your Christmas

be filled with

Aope, joy and love.
Merry Christmas
and
Happy New Year

pecereey mast shin ety acre ies an trent empandine ithe int henry Rep eRe mt? me ee pT "
” #4

votre tettea haerortnamteipkerrcrrteinrt int nari
ERE gts ae

May the sights, sounds and joys of the holidays be
with you throughout 1999.

Burga & Staff thank you for your patronage over the years.
As of December 31, 1998, Hire A Logger portion of Northern
Hearing & Safety Training will no longer be operating due to the
Forest Industry economy

Northern Hearing
& Safety Training

4931-B KEITH AVE., TERRACE, B.C. V8G 1K7
PHONE: (250] 635-5500 » FAX: 250) 635-5524

Here’s wishing you everything sweet and
wonderful this holiday season, Best wishes
to you and yours in the coming year.

Sweet Season’s Greetings!

KAL@ TIRE
Cedarland Tire Ltd.

4929 Keith Avenue, Terrace
635-6170

BSUE VE eS 7

Totem’s Countryide
Furniture & ey Plance

4501 Lakelse Ave, sig Cw) |
fie

638-115
1 -B00- 813- 1188 Paar Visa

- PPEVTE TT?

Happy Holidays to you and
yours from all of us,

Have a great New Year

m Best Wishes for a Ay

= 8§€6©6s- Happy and as :

Bl Healthy New Year aE Dediluke Land =:

| THORNHILL Surveying Inc.
HUSKY

3097 Hwy 168, Thomhil,6.c. 635-9717 A801 Keith Ave, Terrace, BC, 638-1449