Holiday Memories and New Traditions
Since 2007, KaRen refugees from Burma have been joining the Hmong students in HAP’s English classrooms. We asked a few of these KaRen students how they celebrated the holidays before coming to the United States. Although many of the class members are Buddhists, everyone said that they enjoyed and celebrated Christmas and always felt welcome to take part in festivities at churches.
The class remembers fondly the outdoor games played in connection with Christmas in tropical Burma or the refugee camps in Thailand. The games, played by both adults and children, ranged from soccer to the speed-threading of sewing needles, to blindman’s bluff. One hilariously messy game involved trying to eat a KaRen donut-like pastry suspended on a moving stick - without using one’s hands.
Nearly everyone’s favorite game involved attempting to climb a swaying 20-foot bamboo pole greased with lard. Atop the pole a prize of a substantial pile of money would be tied. Standing on the shoulders of up to three people, the topmost person would try to shinny up the final slick stretch and grab the money.
From December 23rd to the 25th, families and groups of friends would visit each neighbor’s house and sing carols for rewards of fruit or money.
Instead of an individual Christmas tree for each house, the local church would have one Christmas tree - a pine. Everyone would place their presents under the communal tree on Christmas Day. After prayers, a sermon and several hymns on the evening of December 25th, the community would find their presents under the tree and open them.
For many KaRen, this will be their first Christmas in the United States. In Minnesota’s winter weather, the KaRen newcomer community will miss their outdoor Christmas fun, but many KaRen, both Buddhists and Christians, will re-create a Christmas tradition by placing their gifts under a communal tree at a downtown St. Paul church. Without a doubt, the happy memories of the old outdoor games and Christmas traditions will inspire creative new holiday traditions in years to come.
Special thanks to Jessica Pentz’s English class - HAP is proud to tell their Christmas stories.