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Christmas spirit lives on in Goa
by Arvind Tangse
Panaji:
Christmas might have been over, but the festival spirit
still lives on in Goa in form of cribs put out by locals
recreating the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. Numerous
cribs in various sizes depicting Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus,
the three kings, sheep and camels, set against a backdrop
of a manger adorn the houses, churches across the state.
For the Catholic families, the tradition of crib making
is as special as the festivity of the Christmas. These
cribs are made by the people themselves, from different
materials such as thermocol, paper, wood and clay. They
are done up beautifully by the people in an effort to
replicate the exact setting of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.
In today's times of turmoil, these cribs have also come
to be associated with peace and harmony. According to
the Christians, Jesus was a messenger of peace so by making
these cribs, they want to spread the message of peace
and harmony. "He has influenced the whole world. This
is a new era of the Christian gospel that has to go around
especially at a time when there is war. We want peace,
Jesus is a priest of peace," said Father Ivo Consecao
Souza. A classic crib has infant Jesus in centre, framed
by Mary and Joseph, and accompanied by an ass and an ox.
The cribs, which are thrown after midnight mass on 25,
are on display till January 6, the day when feast of three
Kings is celebrated.
-Dec
27, 2008
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