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Indian Subcontinent
 

India

Because of international influence on her people, India, perhaps, has the most cosmopolitan Christmas in the world.  Just to name a few: Christmas trees from Germany, ornaments from America, greeting cards from England, creches from France, books from Greece.

Christmas is set against a background of scarlet poinsettia trees and tropical plants.  Children in brightly colored dresses, accompanied by an orchestra of drums and cymbals, perform group dances, using gaily colored sticks as they do their native dances.  Gifts are exchanged, especially with children, and servants, except baksheesh, which means coins.  In turn, servants present a lemon to the head of the household on Christmas morning, a symbol of high esteem, bearing wishes for a long life and prosperity.

Indian Christians do not believe in short services.  The main service on Christmas Day is a midnight one which lasts from two to three hours, with hundred of communicants and many children all massed together on the floor. 

In northwest India, the tribal Christians of the Bhil folk, an aboriginal people, go out night after night for a week at Christmas to sing their equivalent of carols the whole night through.

In south India, Christians fill little clay lamps with oil and put a piece of twisted cotton in them for wicks.  Towards the evening they light these lamps and place them along the edge of the low flat- roofed houses and along the walls outside, so that the houses twinkle with light.  When non- Christians ask about this, it presents an opportunity to share the Christmas story.

Bangladesh

In Bangladesh (which was formerly known as East Pakistan) the christian village men would cut down scores of banana trees and replant them in pairs along the paths to churches and outside their homes. They would then bend over the huge leaves of the banana trees to form an arch, they would then make small holes in the bamboo poles, fill them with oil and tie them across the arches. When the oil is lit, the way to the church is lit up bright enough for all to see.

Pakistan

In Pakistan 25 December is a public holiday it is however in memory of Jinnah the founder of Pakistan.

In Christian homes they celebrate Christmas with the exchanging of gifts and cards, the wearing of new clothes and the visiting of houses of friends.

They have a church service which is packed on Christmas day which is called Bara Din the big day.

 

Nepal

Nepal is a landlocked nation located between China and India. It contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks. It is the only official Hindu state in the world and therefore does not recognize Christian holidays. Visitors would be the only ones who would celebrate Christmas, and that would be in the tradition of their home country.

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