Thousands match for Christmas celebrations in Bor

By Philip Thon Aleu

December 25, 2009 (BOR) – For the first time in twelve months, traffic police officers – in Bor town, struggle to control flow of vehicles and Christians matching on Thursday and today Friday.

The tradition of marking Christmas here is that church organizes matches on 24th of December in what churches leaders say aims at alerting the entire population about the birth of Jesus in the next few hours. The night of 24/25 December is spend in churches to remember the biblical birth of Jesus. Night prayers end just before morning dawn and resume at 7am local time. December 25th morning prayers end before midday and another massive matching resumes.

It is Christmas and in every corner of South Sudan, celebrations go on according to people’s ways. From dressing in new clothes to wafting of sounds from music and drums beats the day has finally come. Churches and compounds were filled to capacity on December 25. In fact the numbers doubled several times.

In Bor, the capital of Jonglei state, the festive season has brought all citizens from other parts of the Sudan and beyond to join their families.

All residents either matched on December 24th or watched people matching on these dusty roads. A population estimated at 30 thousands participated in the event leading to Christmas. Preaching here today, church leaders calls for peace, unity and forgiveness from ethnic communities in the state.

Meanwhile, politicians facing the first test of elections come April 2010 has their Christmas miles away. The leaders are thus moving to every nook of their village to gather votes.

Campaigning for peace in Jonglei, and probably looking for supports in next year’s elections, Governor Kuol Manyang Juuk is expected to be celebrating Christmas in Wat today since he left Bor Thursday. While there, Mr. Manyang will discuss peaceful disarmament and peaceful co-existence with local people in villages.

(ST)