Christian community celebrates Xmas today

Security stepped up at churches across Sindh

KARACHI:

The Christian community is set to celebrate the joyous occasion of Christmas with fervour and enthusiasm nationwide, including in Karachi, today (Monday).

Vibrant displays of Christmas trees and Stars of David adorn churches, homes, and neighbourhoods, while electric lanterns illuminate houses and streets.

The festive celebrations commenced with Sunday mass in all churches of the metropolitan city, including St Patrick's and Holy Trinity.

Christian priests conveyed the teachings of Jesus Christ, accompanied by special songs and prayers for peace, security, prosperity, and development in the country. These prayer events will continue until Monday.

Read also: Alvi, Kakar urge harmony in Xmas messages

Residential areas of the Christian community are hosting special Christmas events, embellishing houses with festive decorations. Christmas cakes are being cut, and Santa Claus is spreading joy by distributing gifts to children.

In the spirit of Christmas, community members, from men to children, have adorned themselves with new clothes and exchanged greetings, gifts, and well-wishes.

As the Christian community geared up on Sunday to complete their last minute preparations, markets in Saddar were seen crowded.

A spring of Christmas trees appeared; some of which were green, others green and white and yet others just white. Clothes and gifts for children were everywhere while bakeries and cake-making companies were busy in preparing numerous orders for Christmas cakes. Foreign ambassadors and staff members also headed to Bohri Bazar for Christmas shopping while lanes of the market were exploding with a merry view of green trees.

Christmas tree tradition

Christmas trees and decorations add a spark to Christmas as the joys are incomplete without them. The healthy green Christmas tree symbolises hope and an everlasting life. Decorating homes with green twigs and plants is a part of the Ancient Roman tradition that is specially done in winters and on New Year's Eve. The pointed end of the Christmas tree rising towards the sky highlights the connection of man with the creator of the universe.

From the last few years, there has been an increase in demand for Christmas trees. The ones most in demand are those that are 10-12 feet high. Made with plastic layering on iron wires, these Christmas trees are placed in hotels, trade centres, embassies and churches. With the rise in inflation and dollar rates, the prices of Christmas trees and their décor has risen too.

Bohri Bazar on Christmas

A visible increase in purchases is seen in the week right before Christmas. PHOTO: EXPRESS

According to shopkeepers of the Bohri Bazar, the buying capacity of Christian community in Karachi is already quite low and now it's accompanied by uncontrollable inflation. With the depreciating value of the rupee, Christmas ornaments have become 20-25% more costly. The price of an 8-10ft long Christmas tree is Rs1,000 costlier than last year. The decoration items to decorate the trees are purchased separately which include shining stars, small Christmas bells, little Santas and icy bulbs. The shopkeepers observe that the shopping for Christmas items begins from the start of December and continue till Christmas Eve. A visible increase in purchases is seen in the week right before Christmas.

Symbolism of Christmas decorations

Christmas bells, amongst all decoration items, are loved the most as the bells symbolise the arrival of the season and to proclaim the birth of Christ. Bells are also traced back to pagan winter celebrations as noisemakers were used to scare away evil spirits in the night. The red bells reflect the colour of holly berries, which also had pagan symbolism during the winter celebrations in ancient Rome. Green is another popular colour for Christmas bells that signifies everlasting light and life.

These bells are sold according to their sizes starting at Rs100 and going up to Rs500 each. They are made from plastic used only for decoration on the trees. The Christmas wreath is also an essential part of the decorations. The wreath made from flowers, ribbons and twigs are placed on doors of houses. The round wreath symbolises unconditional love from God. Snowmen are also used, despite the fact that there is no snow in Karachi, they are of utter importance in Christmas as it highlights the sensation of snowfall. In Bohri Bazar, statues of snowmen in big and small sizes are also sold along with huge Christmas stars to be placed on top of the Christmas tree.

Santa clothes

Santa Claus' clothes and caps are a major attraction for children amongst the Christian community. Children like dressing up in Santa clothes to personify Santa Claus who spreads joy and love. Due to the lack of purchasing power of new clothes, shopkeepers at Bohri Bazar usually stock up red and white coloured jackets or coats. Many people prefer buying the Santa clothes from foreign markets and then resell them right after Christmas.

Santa Claus clothes are available for newly-born children as well as for the elderly who love to adapt Santa Claus' appearance to distribute joys of Christmas.

Sharing love

On Christmas, apart from the Christian community, people from other communities also present cakes to their friends. Bakeries have prepared special cakes that are sold all day long. Along with that, five-star hotels of the cities and large-scale cake shops have specially prepared Christmas themed desserts, sales of which have already begun. Courier companies are also providing special cake-delivery service for the day.

The sweets and bakers shops on Jail Road and Bahadurabad are seen crowded while the bakeries in Saddar are receiving huge orders for cakes. The manager of a cake shop situated near Guru Mandir, told The Express Tribune that on Christmas mostly small and medium-sized ice-cream cakes, chocolate cakes, and crunch cakes are sold. People love gifting dry fruit cakes to their friends as a speciality of winter.

Security alert

As Christmas approaches, the Sindh police chief, IG Rifat Mukhtar Raja, has issued directives for enhanced security measures across the province, ensuring comprehensive safety for both Quaid-i-Azam Day and Christmas. Emphasis is placed on robust security at Mazar-I-Quaid, surrounding areas, and main gates, with the Bomb Disposal Squad conducting thorough sweeping and clearance processes.

For Christmas, the police chief stressed extraordinary security in churches, missionary schools, and educational institutions throughout the province, especially in Christian community areas. Coordination with relevant police stations and event organisers is deemed crucial, with SHOs instructed to be present during celebrations. The focus is on real-time updates and coordination through wireless control bases.

Looking ahead to the death anniversary of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto on December 27, the police chief underscores the need for highly coordinated security arrangements for public gatherings. Patrols, picketing, random snap checks, motorcycle patrolling, and intelligence-based countermeasures are key components, with plainclothes personnel assigned special responsibilities.

Read: Parks get new look ahead of Christmas

Meanwhile, Sindh Solid Waste Management Board Managing Director Naseemuddin Mirani visited various churches, inspecting sanitation arrangements and meeting church administrators.

Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab's instructions for cleaning, fumigation, and lime spraying around churches were duly carried out.

SSWMB’s managing director has directed officers and private companies to maintain cleaning arrangements and stay in touch with church administrations. Lime spraying and disinfectant measures have been implemented, with Christmas cakes being cut at the SSWMB offices in different districts.

On this occasion, the SSWMB MD extends Merry Christmas to all Christian employees, acknowledging their dedication and hard work. He emphasises problem-solving and celebration of employees' events as institutional priorities.