How	Special	is		?

by Hanna Satyawati

After 1981, my two daughters passed the age of six and did not believe anymore in “Sinterklaas” with his “zwarte pieten” (black piet), which is celebrated on December 5 in Holland and also in Indonesia. They did not expect presents as a reward for good behaviour from the Sint (the Dutch version of Santa Claus).

The first week of December is the start of the Christmas preparation in our family. It is the time that we take out the Christmas decorations and set up the artificial Christmas tree. The fun is in putting the decorations together with my daughters, and changing the atmosphere of the house.

Since the late eighties, the department stores in Jakarta, and later the malls, have been competing with each other to decorate their shop windows with the most fancy Christmas decorations. It is always a joy to window shop, even if you do not intend to buy new decorations, although it is a big temptation since the items get fancier and fancier.

From the second week of December, we start to make the list of gifts for our extended family members and friends. It varies from cakes and cookies to poinsettias and hand made products. The last five years, quilts have become popular as gifts.

But the most enjoyable part is the evening of December 24, when we attend the Christmas evening service that starts at 10 pm, after having a family dinner. We live in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, but every year for the Christmas holidays we travel to Bandung in the mountains, to be with my parents.

On Christmas morning, we attend the church service. This is followed by visits from my aunts, uncles, cousins and their children, who come to our house for lunch.

It is the only time of the year that the working relatives have a common holiday. My father (89) is the oldest of his surviving of his brothers and sisters, and therefore my parents house has become the meeting place for the Tedjajuwana family.

Enjoy your Christmas holidays.