Joy to the World, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
… And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing
In the very early dawn of a very cold winter, carol singing, going around to each church member's house, began Christmas Day when I was young in Korea. This tradition still remains in some parts of Korea. On my first Christmas day, young members of the church came to my house door with singing, but I could not welcome them since my parents were not Christians. I had to pretend to sleep, feeling guilty, and that feeling comes back to me every Christmas. Even though I could not welcome the singers and share the joy with others, it is still one of my unforgettable memories in my life.
Christmas in Korea is celebrated at the church, not in the family home. Of course, Christmas is a holiday for all, which does not mean anything except that it is not a working day for most people. We see Christmas trees and Santas at shopping centres and shops, and in front of city halls. We see many parents buying Christmas gifts for their own children; many young couples buying and giving heartfelt gifts to their lovers, and mail delivery people carrying and delivering Christmas and New Year's greeting cards. We see these scenes everywhere in this secular world.
But Korean Christians celebrate Christmas at church, not at home. It is the busiest season for the church. Every church prepares Christmas presents with children and special Christmas carols with young people and adults. Since the family does not celebrate Christmas at home and many of them do not prepare gifts for the children, every church also prepares little gifts for all children and some churches for adults as well. But most of all, it is a season to think about those who are in need. Almost all churches prepare gifts to visit those who are in need, in places like prisons, military bases, orphanages or seniors' homes. “Happy Christmas with the underprivileged” is a slogan for all.
There was neither a Christmas tree nor wrapped gift boxes at home, but hidden Santas with warm and generous hands. There was no special meal with roast turkey at home, but delicious rice cake soup at the church. Writing these memories of Christmas, I smell fresh sweet rice cakes which we, executives of the Senior High School Christian Association, delivered to the military base and the prison near our high school. And I picture children, especially their yearning eyes, whom I encountered at orphanages in those days. I picture elderly people who were weary from waiting for their loved ones at their seniors' homes. I see Salvation Army baskets and hear the sound of a bell asking us to be a Santa. I also taste the rice cake soup our church made for the feast for all the members of the congregation.
Walking along every street, I already see beautiful Christmas trees with special lights, red suited Santas, and special sale signs with Christmas music. Everyone seems to be busy with buying gifts for loved ones. This year Christmas will come to the church and to shopping centres, but I wonder whether the Baby Jesus has a place to be laid down or not.
