Christmas is coming to every countryside
(Baonghean) - For many years, Christmas has been a special holiday for Catholics, and has become a day of joy for everyone. Beyond the framework of beliefs and religions, the atmosphere of Christmas is bustling all over the countryside, with the common wish for peace, reunion and happiness.
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| People flock to Nghi Loc parish, Dien Hanh commune, Dien Chau district on Christmas Eve. Photo: Kien Nguyen. |
It is not only now that the excitement and joy have multiplied, but for the people of Van Thanh parish in Thanh Giang commune, Thanh Chuong district, the Christmas atmosphere has begun many months ago. Unlike every year, this year, more than 1,000 parishioners here have the desire to create something different and more impressive to mark Christmas in the midlands. There were many ideas, and finally, the parish decided to build a bamboo tower simulating the famous Eiffel Tower in France.
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| Unique conical pine tree in Do Luong district. Photo: Le Ngoc Phuong |
Mr. Tran Van Duc (27 years old) - one of the two young men in charge of this job said that he and his colleagues had to search the Internet for a long time to better understand the structure of the tower, from there, discuss and find many different ways to "bring" the Eiffel Tower "back" to Van Thanh parish. Determining the main material is bamboo - a locally available tree species, these creative and enthusiastic young men have been working on the project for more than a month and a half. The bamboo Eiffel Tower is 22m high, with a base area of nearly 36 square meters. The implementation process certainly had its difficulties, but when talking, these young men still radiated joy, because for them, the project is not to affirm their skills, nor to leave a personal mark, but more than that, they hope the project will bring excitement and joy to all people.
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| People celebrate Christmas in churches. Photo: Sach Nguyen |
Not only Van Thanh parish, but the special thing that is easily noticeable about this year's Christmas is that in many localities, parishioners have created many impressive and unique works, associated with hometown products. If in 2017, the parishioners of Luu My parish, Tru Son commune, Do Luong district created surprise with a Christmas tree made from 6,000 clay pots and was recognized as a Vietnamese record, then this year, present in this peaceful countryside is a giant windmill, towering with 2 sets of blades weighing 280 kg with a wingspan of 9.19 m. In addition, on this occasion, the parishioners of Luu My also built a "pot palace" - a house across the village road, hung and covered with 2019 pots to welcome the new year 2019. Tru Son is a rural area associated with pot village tourism, so these days, the windmill and the "pot palace" have created attraction and excitement for many people and tourists from all over. Hundreds of people have come to this unique place to take photos and check-in. A Christmas filled with joy, radiant smiles of everyone, regardless of religion.
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| Christmas gift giving service attracts customers. Photo: Quang An |
Equally impressive is the Christmas tree made from thousands of baskets of chives - agricultural products that bring the main income to the people of Binh Thuan parish, Nghi Thuan commune, Nghi Loc district. Coming to the parish these days, the feeling is very bustling when music, flags, and colored lights flash in every house and alley. Looking far away is a unique 20m high pine tree, decorated with more than 3,000 meters of flashing lights and many colorful light bulbs, shining brightly over the whole area.
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| Nghi Loc Parish Church with its brightly decorated space is an interesting and attractive destination for many people and tourists during Christmas 2018. |
From Nghi Thuan, going to Dien Hanh (Dien Chau), we are even more amazed by the beautiful decorations of the parish church here. Dien Hanh parishioners proudly "show off": This is one of the most magnificently decorated churches in Nghe An. Indeed, walking along the colorful roads of hundreds of homemade lanterns, people and tourists suddenly get lost in a large campus sparkling with pine trees, poetic paradise garden, reverent nativity scene, baby Jesus...
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| Many youth art programs at parishes and chapels attracted large crowds. Photo: Vinh Diocese. |
Then at Son La parish, Xuan Son commune, Do Luong district with a 15m high conical hat pine tree; then the 125m long road leading to Nghia Thanh parish church, Nghia Trung commune, Nghia Dan district is decorated with 6,000 pinwheels; and the giant grotto at Mo Vinh parish, Thanh Khe commune, Thanh Chuong district... It is impossible to count how many unique constructions to welcome Christmas this year, only knowing that, under those constructions are many smiles, joys sent to each other, and together holding hands to pray for the message of peace, safety, and happiness.
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| Decorating the Christmas tree. Photo: Duc Anh |
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| The churches were packed with people on Christmas Eve. Photo: Vinh Diocese |
Joining the joy of Christmas in all localities, on this occasion, the provincial leaders made many visits, presented gifts and congratulated a number of priests, Catholic dignitaries and parishioners in parishes. Leading a working delegation to visit Trai Gao parish (Nghi Loc) and Thuan Nghia parish (Quynh Luu), Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Dac Vinh sent Christmas greetings to the priests, dignitaries, officials and parishioners. Delighted with the changes in the parishes and parishes, the Provincial Party Secretary acknowledged the positive contributions of Catholic dignitaries and parishioners to the overall development of the province.
The Provincial Party Secretary affirmed that in the Catholic community, there are many outstanding intellectuals and businessmen who have accompanied the cause of innovation, industrialization and modernization of the country and believes that priests, dignitaries and officials will continue to make efforts and make many contributions to constantly consolidate and strengthen the great national unity bloc, for the growth of the homeland and the country.
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| The grounds of the churches are all magnificent. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| Many children are excited about Christmas. Photo: Tan Ky |
Visiting Bao Nham Parish, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Nguyen Van Thong sent Christmas wishes of peace and happiness to priests and Catholics, and acknowledged and praised the contributions of the people in the cause of building and developing the homeland and the country. The Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee also hoped that the dignitaries and parishioners would continue to promote the spirit of "Respecting God, loving the country", "Living a good life, living a good religion", cultivating solidarity and consensus, and joining hands to build the homeland to become stronger and stronger.
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| “Clay pot palace” of the parishioners of Luu My, Tru Son commune (Do Luong). Photo: Huy Thu |
In localities throughout the province, these days, many activities of visiting, giving gifts, and wishing Christmas to parishioners have taken place. Along with that is the bustling atmosphere of shopping and decorating by a large number of people, not only in parishes and churches but also in residential areas from the city center to the countryside, coastal areas... It seems that in everyone's mind, Christmas has erased all religious differences, only remaining and multiplying the message of reunion, peace and prosperity.
