In Senegal, Christmas is for Muslims

This article was originally published on this blog and later updated and translated into French to publish at TPSG.

Not only is Christmas for Muslims, but so are the rest of the traditional Christian holidays. As a former French colony, the Senegalese government has declared Christmas, All Saints Day, and a host of other Christian holy days civic holidays. Banks and shops are closed, and most people take the day off of work.

Mardi Gras is also big in Senegal. Kids dress up in costumes and go door to door showing off their attire and asking for coins. And while Lent is not practiced by Muslims, many Catholics take on many of the practices associated with Ramadan, such as fasting from all food and water from sunrise to sundown, rather than merely abstaining from meat on Fridays.

Easter Week is also a busy holiday in Senegal, with the Jesus film playing on TV, and Catholics preparing a special dish called ngalakh to share with their Muslim neighbours - just as their Muslim neighbours share food with Catholic friends during Muslim holidays. My theory is that Senegalese people love to have a good time, and if you're having a party, they're coming over! Muslims enjoy the time off from work along with their Catholic neighbours, since the Monday after Easter Sunday is a paid holiday, as is the Monday after Pentecost Sunday. 

Christmas, however, takes the cake. During the weeks leading up to December 25, you will find vendors lining the streets with tacky inflatable Santas, fake Christmas trees, boxes of indestructible plastic ornaments, and tinsel hanging around their necks like scarves. Those who can afford it will decorate their homes, offices, and even cars with these cheap imports from China. Children all expect gifts from Santa, just like they do back in N. America, but they have no idea what the holiday originally commemorates. We once asked our little neighbour Mami is she knew what we were celebrating at Christmas, and she said no. "Let me give you a clue, Mami." Dan said, "It's someone's birthday." Mami thought about it for a second before replying, "Santa Clause?" 

Muslims recognize Jesus Christ as a prophet, but don't intentionally celebrate the date of his birth. Many Muslim societies discourage Christmas hoopla. But Senegalese say they have a long history of tolerance and coexistence with Christians, so why not share Christmas? Secularism in the West may mean the freedom not to celebrate a religious holiday. In Senegal, many interpret it to mean they should celebrate all of them. 

As we prepare to celebrate our Saviour's birth, we visit our neighbours and share delicious baked goods, a wall calendar with Bible verses, and a Christmas card. As you prepare to commemorate the advent of the Son, won’t you pause for a moment and pray for Christians around the world, and particularly in Muslim countries like Senegal? Please ask the Lord to grant believers open doors and boldness to share what we really celebrate on December 25 - not merely the birth of a baby, but of a Saviour born to die a sinner's death on a cross as a ransom for many.