I have here with me Jerome, the leader of the Myanmar Catholic Community in Malaysia (MCCM) which gathers the migrant workers in Malaysia. Fondacio is working with this group since the last 5 years - teaching english, animating leadership sessions, and being close friends to this group. Also when I was in Yangon, Myanmar, I had arranged for visiting priests to visit this group for Christmas. There are around 500 members registered in this group but about 40 to 50 persons attended the regular weekly activities as many of them work on sundays. When there is is a big occasion, say a Christmas mass, or Easter or when there is a visiting priest there are around 200 to 250 persons who come for mass in Myanmar language.
So i am asking Jerome SA AUNG NAING OO (his full name ) some questions.
Ben : Explain Christmas in Myanmar : how do you celebrate ?
Jerome : It starts 1st December when preparation starts - Caroling practices for 1 week, followed by caroling groups visiting villages. They start after dinner at 6.30 pm and then they visit houses in the villages until 3 to 4 am singing Carols. Carols is a big thing in Myanmar among the Catholic and Baptist church. And even Buddhist groups are formed they too. Only the Christian groups have a short reflection on the Christmas story - from the bible text and then they pray for the household. Each household will share something - little meals, snacks or cash donations. The Christian groups visits all the houses that have asked them - and often, Buddhist houses also request the carolers to sing for them
Ben : what happens on Christmas day
Jerome : In my village on the 24th evening, there is a Christmas concert before the mid night mass and this stops at mid night when the mid night mass starts at Liam. The Catholics and the Christians will celebrate the Eucharist whilst the Buddhist neighbors and friends prepare the meals - it is a village affair celebration. After the Eucharist the whole village celebrates together - meals, singing songs, dances until the morning. This is a village Christmas celebration in Myanmar.
Ben : How does the mecum (migrant workers group) celebrate Christmas in Kuala Lumpur (capital of Malaysia).
Jerome : This year 2008, they have already start preparation (as I type this) - an annual newsletter is now being prepared with the news and Christmas songs. This newsletter will be sold (very nominal) to the migrant workers when they come for the Christmas midnight mass. This year a bishop from Myanmar will be celebrating mass for them in a school hall. They estimate about 700 Myanmar workers and refugees will be coming for this mass - as they have done a lot of invitations to the many Myanmar migrant resident areas.
On 24th deck morning at Liam there will be baptisms and for 4 Myanmar babies and also 5 marriages in a celebration officiated by the visiting Myanmar bishop. after this morning celebration - they Myanmar community will divide into 2 groups - one group to prepare and decorate the hall for the mid night mass and other group will start to prepare for the community Christmas meal. This preparation will end at Pam in the evening. There will then be time for confessions from Pam onwards (for many this is only occasion they have for the sacrament). This poor bishop will be listening to confessions until about 10.30pm !
At 11pm the bishop will celebrate the Christmas mid night mass which will end around 12.30am after which the whole community will feast on the meal prepared earlier. Then the celebrations will continue with the different ethnic groups presenting their songs, comedy, skits, dances. There will fun and lucky draws for the members to participants. They will also be a time for giving presents for the children - estimate about 30 children.
This celebration will continue until 3 to 4 am.
For those who are unable to join the mid night mass and celebrations, the bishop will celebrate a mass at 830am in the morning and there will also be a short celebration after the mass.
The group will then clean up the hall and go back to their homes
This is how Christmas is celebrated by the Myanmar migrants and refugees in Kuala Lumpur.
The blessings of Christmas be upon you always :
christmas ee kaungchi mingalar thin do a por aa sin a myier thet yok pa say.
Jerome choose this text and the translation is below :-
Don’t be afraid, I am here with good news for you which will bring great joy to all the people : this very day in David’s town your Savior was born, Christ the Lord ! (Luke 2.10-11)
chow yuuk chin mei shi cha nyet. lu apau tho di alon wan myeik wan taa saay ya thet thin goo nga bi thin do ah cha pyaw et. ja nyet twan dawyet im myiuk night ta khin crit tao di hu dao kek thin a shin tee thin dok a pok alone nga kwa myin chin kwo kan do mu bi.
ta khin crit tao = Christ the Lord
kek thin a shin = a Savior
dawyet im myiuk = in David’s town
You can also download this file :
Witnessing to Families, by Carol Daria
