Christmas

Christmas Eve we went to a carolling concert at the local community centre. About 200 people were there – they are streaming into the community now, and kids are everywhere. (am missing my grandchildren and great grand-children right now.) A Christmas pageant was integrated into the concert, and the shepherds were played by two great big men in gum-boots, a NZ fashion statement. Mary and Joseph were played by a well-respected couple in the 70's; Joseph's only role was to burp the baby – he told me so, later. Our friend Krishna was in the choir, and she had a great time.
Christmas morning, we went to a Roman Catholic church service in Wahai, a tiny Maori village nearby. The church was full, and the service was noisy, informal in a formal sort of way – not nearly as restrained as the Protestant service we attended later that week. I took photos of the interior of the church – the walls were decorated with traditional Maori weavings and carvings, each panel unique, each representing an important symbol of Maori life. For example one panel pattern represented a flounder, another a fern, and the 'stairway to heaven' decorated the panel behind the altar. As well, the rafters supporting the roof were carved and painted in traditional fashion, each one different from the other in pattern and colour. Very rich in colour, symbolism, but no velvet, no gold. . . . Lovely.
And to top off the morning, we put our feet into one of the thermal pools on the lakeshore in front of the church. Hot, hot, hot. Graham (a Maori), says the women used to cook in the thermal pools, and build steam cookers over them. I can see why!!
For Christmas dinner, we grilled vegetables and Graham barbecued a WONDERFUL beef roast – rare, lightly spiced – yum. And for dessert, a Pavlova, which is a meringue filled with fruit and whip cream – lots of whip cream. Santa found each of us, though we were far from home.
And, next day I got up early to call home – see the sunrise?
How much I have to be grateful for.