Christmas Time in Bangalore

It has been really nice to experience the Christmas season in Bangalore. If it weren't December and I didn't know what time of year it was I would have no clue it was Christmas. People here do celebrate Christmas--they call it "Western Christmas"--with gifts, trees, food, etc. But since there are so many religious festivals here it doesn't get much advertisement. That is what has been so nice. There is no hustle and bustle like I feel from Thanksgiving to New Years in the U.S. The calendar hasn't become full of events every weekend, the stores aren't decorated and traffic is always bad, not just for the mad rush of Christmas shopping that happens this time of year in the states:D And apart from our nativity screensaver (shown above) there are no decorations in our house. It has been so wonderfully simple this year. It has allowed us to focus wholly on Christ's birth which is very refreshing.

Ofcourse, I am sad that the real reason for Christmas is not celebrated here--Jesus and His salvation! There are many Christians here that are geniunely worshipping but for most of the people it's just another god and just another festival.

I think too it is easy for me to revel in the simplicity and non-commercialism right now when I know we are coming to the states to be with our family and friends for this special season. We know Americans that will be staying here alone and I'm sure it will be really tough. That would be the true test of being satisfied in Christ's birth alone--without all the familiar traditions and loved ones that go along with it. I hope that we can continue to experience the simplicity in the states even among all the nice "extras" of this season.