Father Christmas and his helper.
Have yourself a merry merry Christmas
Have yourself a good time
But remember the kids who got nothin’
While you’re drinkin’ down your wine
–Father Christmas, The Kinks
Father Christmas is the British version of Santa Claus, adopted by its former colony. Yesterday, he came to the road I walk to work. This little visit was something we planned for a few months. I found a costume in October (Yes, even in Uganda they start with the specialty Christmas stuff in late October- I wore it for the video we made during In Service Training). I wanted to dress as Father Christmas and give toys to the kids who run out to greet and fist bump me every day .
Sample selection of a gift package.
After my own children chided me about being the “white gift-giver”, the culture of dependency etc., and after a few other PC volunteers predicted I would be tormented by gift requests hereafter, I asked my counterpart Matthews to be Father Christmas. I had an extra Santa hat, and would be his helper.
When my Rotary Club back home started organizing a care package, I requested they send little toys, and ultimately received two packages. Included were about 65 little wind-up robots that I believe were table decorations for a CASA fundraiser. I also received two big bags of Tootsie Rolls and Whoppers. My Aunt Shirley from Laramie sent a nice box of toys and Wyoming-themed Christmas decorations. Unfortunately, three boxes of donations from my siblings did not arrive on time.
Matthews as Father Christmas.
I had not anticipated that many Bugiri families would be going back to their home village for Christmas this week. In fact today, Christmas Eve, there are not many children around. I also knew that Matthews wanted to get to his own home village. So after we confirmed the post office would not be receiving any more packages until after Christmas, we decided to have Father Christmas come on the 23rd. We assembled 65 little baggies, each with a wind-up robot. We added 48 pencils, and separated from the pencils, about 15 little stuffed animals similar to beanie babies for the smallest kids, and added an assortment of plastic whistles, tops, and other items.
We started from my home and things went well for awhile. Then we got a section where generally about ten children greet me. Chaos ensued. In a flash there were about 50 kids clamoring around poor Matthews. Some of the moms tried to organize the kids into lines, as you see in this video, but it was hopeless. We ran out quickly and I still did not reach a few other clusters of kids further down the road. I apologized to the moms profusely for running out and hope they are not upset.
Matthews was pretty tired trudging back to my compound.
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When the delayed boxes finally arrive, I will try to distribute those toys to the neglected portion of my road. Maybe next year I will solicit all my readers to send toys. I am reluctant, because the postage is extreme, probably well in excess of the cost of the toys. We’ll see.
I spent Christmas with my host family in Iganga. Lots of friends and relations enjoyed an afternoon in the courtyard, It was so nice to see Sharon in good spirits after her hospitalization only a few days before. I met George, an education trainee staying with Simon and Hellen in my old room. He is learning Lusoga much more easily than I.
Simon’s two wives and oldest son.
Like all of you, I reflect on many Christmas memories. Jan’s favorite song, Christmas or not, was John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas”.
A very Merry Xmas
And a happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear
War is over, if you want it
War is over now
Happy Xmas
—Lennon