Riobamba is a very old small city in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador. Syncretism between the animist religion of the Quichua Indians and Catholicism has created a very religious but pagan society. For this reason most evangelical churches do not celebrate Christmas in the churches for fear of the paganism.

Several weeks before and after December 25, the major streets of a section of the city will be closed to traffic so that processions of "Passing the Christ-child" can take place. A group of families, or an organization, a school or business employees, will take a doll, make clothing of fabric woven with gold, and lead a procession, first to a church for mass, then through the streets. The "divine child" will be passed from the family who took care of it this year to a different family who will have it in their home next year. The expectancy is that the presence of the "divine child" will bring the family good luck and prosperity. In the procession will be people masquerading as wild animals and a band with dancers. At the new "home" of the "divine child" there will be much drinking and food. Thousands of dollars will be spent on this event; and it is an honor to be asked to participate in it.

Our Christian Quichuas are only now beginning to have a family Christmas. December is the time of year to work long hours in the markets selling Christmas items to others, hopefully to get out of debt or to have a little money to begin the next year. Christmas will be celebrated in the churches, usually with a drama by the youth, a program with the children, and bags of cookies and candies for each person. Many of the rural churches do not have money for the bags of goodies, so I have often helped them with an offering. Some of the city churches are making Christmas an opportunity to evangelize their neighborhoods.

Each evening of Christmas week, I invite groups of church leaders and families to my house. I will lead the children in playing Christmas songs with bells. The children will participate in reading the Christmas story from the Bible. I will explain the importance of Christmas - that Christmas is for giving and not receiving. Then each person will choose a gift from under the tree and give that gift to another person as they tell that person what they appreciate about them. Eating Christmas goodies will end the evening as we sing Feliz Navidad.

And that is my greeting to each of you. You are welcome to spend Christmas in Ecuador!

Sharon Ranalli