Christmas is coming to every corner of the countryside.
(Baonghean) - From a special holiday for Catholics, Christmas has become a joyful occasion for everyone in recent years. Transcending religious beliefs, the atmosphere across the countryside is bustling with the celebration of Christmas, with a shared wish for peace, togetherness, and happiness.
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| People flocked to Nghi Loc parish, Dien Hanh commune, Dien Chau district on Christmas Eve. Photo: Kien Nguyen. |
The festive atmosphere isn't just now; for the parishioners of Van Thanh parish in Thanh Giang commune, Thanh Chuong district, the spirit of Christmas has been building for months. Unlike previous years, this year, over 1,000 parishioners wanted to create something different and more impressive to mark Christmas in this hilly region. Many ideas were considered, and ultimately, the parish decided to erect a bamboo tower modeled after the famous Eiffel Tower in France.
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| A unique pine tree made from conical hats in Do Luong district. Photo: Le Ngoc Phuong. |
Tran Van Duc (27 years old), one of the two young men primarily responsible for this project, said that he and his colleague spent a long time researching the internet to better understand the tower's structure. From there, they discussed and explored various ways to "bring" the Eiffel Tower "back" to Van Thanh parish. Determining that the main material would be bamboo – a readily available local plant – these creative and enthusiastic young men worked tirelessly for over a month and a half. The bamboo Eiffel Tower is 22 meters high and has a base area of nearly 36 square meters. The process was undoubtedly challenging, but when they spoke, these young men still radiated joy. For them, the project wasn't about showcasing their skills or leaving a personal mark; more importantly, they hoped it would bring excitement and shared joy to all the people.
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| People celebrate Christmas in churches. Photo: Nguyen Sach |
Not only in Van Thanh parish, but a particularly noticeable feature of this year's Christmas is that in many localities, parishioners have created many impressive and unique structures, incorporating local products. While in 2017, parishioners of Luu My parish in Tru Son commune, Do Luong district, amazed everyone with a Christmas tree made from 6,000 clay pots, recognized as a Vietnamese record, this year, a giant windmill stands majestically in this peaceful countryside, with two sets of blades weighing 280 kg and a wingspan of 9.19 m. In addition, on this occasion, the parishioners of Luu My also erected a "clay pot palace," a house built across the village road, adorned with 2019 clay pots, symbolizing the welcoming of the New Year 2019. Tru Son is a rural area associated with pottery village tourism, so these days, the windmill and the "clay pot palace" have attracted and delighted many locals and tourists from all over. Hundreds of people have come to this unique location to take photos and check in. It was a Christmas filled with joy and radiant smiles from everyone, regardless of religion.
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| Christmas gift delivery services are in high demand. Photo: Quang An |
Equally impressive is the Christmas tree made from thousands of baskets of shallots – a staple agricultural product that provides the main income for the parishioners of Binh Thuan parish, Nghi Thuan commune, Nghi Loc district. Visiting the parish these days, one can feel the vibrant atmosphere with music, flags, and twinkling lights in every house and alley. Looking into the distance, one can see the unique 20-meter-tall Christmas tree, decorated with over 3,000 meters of twinkling lights and countless other colorful bulbs, illuminating the entire area with a dazzling glow.
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| Nghi Loc Parish Church, with its brightly decorated interior, was a fascinating and attractive destination for many locals and tourists during the 2018 Christmas season. |
From Nghi Thuan, continuing on to Dien Hanh (Dien Chau), one is even more amazed by the magnificent decorations of the parish church there. The parishioners of Dien Hanh proudly boast: This is one of the most spectacularly decorated churches in Nghe An. Indeed, walking along the roads ablaze with hundreds of handcrafted lanterns, locals and tourists alike find themselves in a vast grounds sparkling with pine trees, a dreamy garden of Eden, a solemn grotto, and the image of the Baby Jesus…
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| Many youth cultural and artistic programs are held in parishes and sub-parishes, attracting large crowds. Photo: Vinh Diocese. |
Then there's Son La parish in Xuan Son commune, Do Luong district, with a 15-meter-tall Christmas tree made of conical hats; then there's the 125-meter-long road leading to Nghia Thanh parish church in Nghia Trung commune, Nghia Dan district, decorated with 6,000 windmills; and then there's the giant nativity scene in Mo Vinh parish, Thanh Khe commune, Thanh Chuong district… It's impossible to count how many unique creations celebrate Christmas this year, but we know that beneath these structures are countless smiles and joys shared, and people holding hands in prayer for a message of peace, well-being, 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 in the Christmas festivities across the country, provincial leaders made numerous visits, presented gifts, and offered congratulations to several Catholic priests, dignitaries, and parishioners in various parishes. Leading a delegation to visit Trai Gao sub-parish (Nghi Loc) and Thuan Nghia parish (Quynh Luu), Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Dac Vinh extended wishes for a peaceful and happy Christmas to the priests, dignitaries, and parishioners. Expressing joy at the changes in these sub-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 within the Catholic community there are also many prominent figures, intellectuals, and entrepreneurs who have accompanied the cause of national renewal, industrialization, and modernization. He expressed confidence that priests, religious leaders, and officials will continue to strive and make significant contributions to constantly consolidate and strengthen national unity for the prosperity of the homeland and the country.
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| The grounds of the cathedrals are 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 extended wishes for a peaceful and happy Christmas to the priest and Catholic parishioners, while acknowledging and commending their contributions to the building and development of their homeland and country. The Deputy Secretary also expressed his hope that the religious leaders and parishioners would continue to uphold the spirit of "Reverence for God, love for the country," "Living a good life and practicing good faith," fostering unity and consensus, and working together to build a stronger and more prosperous homeland.
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| "The 'earthen pot palace' of the parishioners of Luu My parish, Tru Son commune (Do Luong district). Photo: Huy Thu" |
Throughout the province, these days, numerous activities such as visiting, giving gifts, and wishing a Merry Christmas to parishioners have taken place. Along with this, there is a bustling atmosphere of shopping and decorating by a large number of people, not only in parishes and congregations but also in residential areas from the city center to rural and coastal regions… It seems that in everyone's minds, Christmas has erased all religious differences, leaving only and amplifying the message of togetherness, peace, and prosperity.
