Far from their home land, Pakenham’s Sudanese residents are preparing to celebrate Christmas in traditional style with a fortnight of fervent singing, dancing, praying and feasting as NARELLE COULTER discovered.
“A church without children has no real laughter. Suddenly we have all these young people coming here and doing things and having a sense of belonging.”
RIAK Kiir would love to celebrate Christmas with a traditional Sudanese parade through the streets of Pakenham.
In his home land adults and children take to the streets to sing, dance and beat drums, expressing their joy at the birth of Jesus.
He doesn’t think Pakenham is ready for a display quite that noisy or exuberant interrupting traffic flow around town.
Mr Kiir is a Sudanese community liaison officer employed by the Uniting Church.
He works with Cardinia shire’s growing population of Sudanese families who were driven from their homeland by war and hunger to seek a new life in Australia.
In South Sudan Christmas is not marked on a single day but is celebrated over a fortnight of feasting, dancing, singing and praying.
Attending church and visiting family and friends is an important ritual relished by all generations.
“We sit and share food, moving from house to house,” explained Mr Kiir.
“We stay up until 1am or 2am each night then go home.”
In South Sudan families would travel great distances to visit relatives. In Melbourne the trek can be as far as Werribee or Melton.
Children don’t traditionally receive presents, but are outfitted with new clothes at Christmas.
It’s a tradition which delights The Reverend Ann Simons.
“It’s great to see children come to the Christmas services not with toys but beautifully dressed,” she said.
On Christmas Eve Sudanese families attend church then gather to watch a movie about the nativity. In the early hours of Christmas they share a meal.
Traditional food at Christmas includes a thin pancake bread called kisera, spinach based akob, fish and lots of salad.
On Christmas Day it’s back to church followed by more feasting with family and friends.
Mr Kiir, who has two sons, said up to 30 friends and relatives may gather at his house during Christmas.
“When the community comes together kids love it. They know each other, they share songs and food. They love it,” he said.
“It’s a great time of hospitality,” said Reverend Simons.
“A big bill as well,” added Mr Kiir, ruefully.
In Sudanese culture no-one brings a plate when visiting. The host provides all the food and the women are the ones who cook.
Mr Kiir admitted that while Christmas was a time of great joy, it was tinged with sadness by many Sudanese families who miss their kin in Africa.
“When I was young we would be out from sunrise to sunset looking for lollies,” recalled Mr Kiir.
“We would go to houses and they would have to give us something. We would stay there until they did give us something, even if they had to go to the shops.”
On 25 December it is customary to wear white as symbol of the holy spirit. The women mark the birth of Jesus with joyous singing and dancing.
On Boxing Day it’s back to church, then more feasting with family and friends.
This goes on for a fortnight.
Reverend Simons said Pakenham’s Anglican community had benefited immeasurably by the influx of Christian Sudanese families.
“Our community is mainly elderly so it’s beautiful having young children around the church,” she said.
“A church without children has no real laughter. Suddenly we have all these young people coming here and doing things and having a sense of belonging.”
The church hosts a homework club on Tuesday and band practise for teenagers on a Sunday evening.
Reverend Simons hopes to raise funds for taekwondo lessons for older boys next year.
The church also conducts English conversation sessions for the women.
“Over the past few years we have learnt to live and work and worship together in every sense,” said Reverend Simons.
“They have shown us that Christmas is about caring and sharing and having fun. It’s not about everything being perfect.”
