Christmas in Taiwan

Christmas has come to Taiwan. The weekend after American Thanksgiving when we were feeling like we were missing our own holiday traditions, it burst out everywhere. It reminded us of when we were children and the Christmas Season really did begin with Advent. So, yes, there were Santa breads (very cute) stuffed with chocolate custard and even lights and tiny Christmas trees. I do have to say that ours is probably the tiniest -- even smaller than the artifical tree that Mom Carano sent to us in the Marshall Islands.


Note the shirt box sized present
under the tree :)

When we were in Majuro for Christmas, we brought our favorite decorations for the "kids."  But as Christmas approached here in Taiwan, our dormitory looked pretty dismal. It reflected our own low spirits. We realized that maybe it was us who needed the lights and hope of the season as well as the decorations that reminded us of Christmas past. Amy's crumpled aluminum bell that comes out every year reminding us of how much time has passed. She is carrying on the baking tradition this year with her sons. It is difficult not to be there with them. Jeremy's ceramic peace dove candle holder made in elementary school was also left behind in Illinois. Somehow that bird  never wanted to be put away after Christmas and sits out all year round. This year he and Jodi will have their first Christmas with Tyler and have the joy of experiencing the wonder of it all through Tyler's fresh, new eyes. His first Christmas and he's crawling!

This being Taiwan though with many perspectives on the deities and holy people who give guidance on living a moral life, it would not be Christmas without a visit to the beautiful Confucian temple. A student in my class is helping give tours and invited us to join her on one of her tours. We visited the temple and them went on to Sunday evening Mass at St. Christopher's a Catholic Church that ministers to Filipina and Filipino guest workers. Taiwan is a very spiritual place occupied by traditional Taiwanese gods and newer interlopers such as Buddha and Jesus. Somehow during this season when I am overwhelmed by the lack of peace in the world I think we need all the prayers and intercessions they all can give us -- so light that candle, burn that incense and wage peace.