Greater Toronto Area Christmas Celebrations

Christmas Celebrations of Diverse Cultural Nature

By William Doyle-Marshall

Canadians who observe Christmas are currently counting how many days are left before the frenzy associated with this season comes to a close. Acquiring gifts and preparation of traditional delicacies are part and parcel of getting ready for the season. Attending concerts right across the Greater Toronto Area and elsewhere in Canada is also an integral of the season.

   The Caribbean Catholic Center whose parishioners worship at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church at 867 College Street, Toronto, are having special Christmas activities designed to remind them that this year-end Christmas festive occasion is not just about spending money on unnecessary things. “We live in a world that is consumerism oriented and everybody is concerned with buying things and spending their time on events of the season,” says Father Carlyle Guissepi, parish priest. He contends the church has to do something to kind of bring the people back to what Christmas or the feast of the Epiphany is supposed to be.

                           Father Carlyle Guiseppi, left, participating 

                           in T&T Independence celebrations

In little ways the church is doing little things to help people understand that Christmas is much more than emphasizing on material things. The Advent wreath-making project was introduced to parishioners which involves the idea of prayer and preparation for Christmas. The candles on the wreath are lit when prayers are said as a genuine illustration that Advent is not just shopping and preparing for Christmas. About 100 participated. “We would like much more to participate but we start where we are,” the Parish Priest surmised.

The setting up of the cresh and the trip of the wise men who followed the star from the East to visit Jesus in his crib in Bethlehem is being dramatized during the Epiphany celebration. Youth, seniors, men and women are participating in the performance. The wise men are moved along different areas of the church, different groups – sometimes families, sometimes children are included. There are prayers and explanation about the wise men’s journey every Sunday and it concludes with gift giving.  All of this is done to keep focused on what the season is all about. The whole idea is to give a gift (nothing expensive) to somebody in the church who is not your friend.

“All you are saying to that person is, ‘you see God in them. You see the Christ child in them,” said Father Guissepi. This is an attempt to bond the community and to get them to meet others who they would not necessarily have met and associated with. It certainly is not a matter of giving a gift to your friend and expecting one in return. Sometimes people would come to church not knowing about the event and would receive a gift and they would have no gift to give anyone. It is a case of giving a gift without any strings attached.’ This too is to center the congregation on the spiritual value of Christmas celebration.

Christmas Eve (December 24) mass will begin with the singing of Carols at 9:00 pm and Christmas Day mass will be offered at 12:00 noon. Old Year’s Night (December 31) Mass starts at 10:00 pm to be followed by ringing in the New Year.

                                    Exciting Songs of My Mother  

An interesting performing arts event for the year end season was “Songs of My Mother” concert produced by the Batuki Music Society at the Daniel Spectrum Theatre. It was truly an exciting production. Singing is a central element in most African cultures and traditions, and it is often associated with women, concert promotion noted. And once you arrived at the theatre and the women occupied the stage, as a member of the audience the situation became infectious. The featured artists were Tapa Diarra of Mali, Blandine Mbiya from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ruth Mathiang -- South Sudan, Evelyn Mukwedeya, Memory Makuri of Zimbabwe and Mabinty Sylla a dancer   from Guinea.  Batuki Music Society’s artistic director, Nadine McNulty, produced the exciting lineup of artists. What a powerful assembly of talent straight from the African continent. We sat in the audience truly appreciating their presentations and at times stepping gingerly into the groove. Irrespective of your ailing bones, it was difficult to sit still and avoid attempting some steps when African rhythms are unleashed.

It is Sunday afternoon and 28 aspiring Canadian musicians assemble at a neighbourhood church in Durham for their annual Christmas recital under the tutelage of Anna Knutel, who runs Horizons Music. Seeing these impressionable children of all ages and ethnicities occupy their seats at the piano and demonstrated their respective level of perfection could be a reminder for parents of their own first public appearance as a child playing an instrument or a minor role in a production many Christmases ago.

                                Horizon Music students Christmas recital 

Summoning up the strength to appear before a gathering of mainly strangers is commendable. The tutor sees the recitals as an opportunity to get the students before audiences. They were encouraged to set their sights on performing at Roy Thompson Hall or the Air Canada Center as they learn, develop and emerge into major Canadian artists. The youngsters were reminded that the longest journey begins with the first step and as students of Horizons Music, they were already taking the first step.

Over 40 students benefit from Ms Knutel’s tutoring all year round and seniors and other adults receive training that includes music therapy for seniors at retirement homes. Teaching music from her teenage days she admits it is rewarding to see somebody excel at something she taught them. “Music is my life so I want to share it with others,” Knutel concluded.

Whether you have disposable income or not to indulge in consumerism, you should invest in personal decency and utilize this time you are privilege to be experiencing in the best possible way. At the top of your "to do list" must be the exhibition of respect, peace, love and total understanding of those around you -- family, friends and others with whom you come into contact.