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December 25, 2024 | 10:03 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Christmas is always celebrated with great joy. Houses are decorated with Christmas trees with various ornaments, streets and buildings are filled with festive lights. Various regions in Indonesia also enliven this celebration with their own traditions.
The tradition of celebrating Christmas in various regions in Indonesia has been a symbol of togetherness since ancient times. Each Christmas celebration tradition is thick with native culture that holds many deep meanings.
Reported from the Ministry of Tourism page, here are six Christmas traditions in Indonesia that are full of meaning.
1. Marbinda and Marhobas in North Sumatra
The traditions of Marbinda and Marhobas are carried out by the Batak Toba community, in North Sumatra. Marbinda is a tradition of slaughtering animals before Christmas, while marhobas is a tradition of cooking the results of the slaughter carried out by men. This tradition not only symbolizes togetherness and a reminder of brotherhood between the community, but also as a form of gratitude to God.
2. Rabo-rabo in Jakarta
Jakarta has a Christmas tradition that is famously unique and is still preserved today, namely Rabo-rabo. The rabo-rabo tradition can be found in Kampung Tugu, Cilincing, North Jakarta. This area is inhabited by a group of Christians of Portuguese descent.
Rabo-rabo in Portuguese Creole means "tail-tailing". This tradition is carried out by going around the village area and visiting relatives' houses, while singing keroncong songs.
At the peak of the rabo-rabo celebration, the mandi-mandi tradition will be carried out, namely drawing each other's faces with white powder. According to belief, this activity symbolizes atonement and forgiveness, as well as to start and welcome the New Year in a clean state.
3. Wayang Wahyu in Yogyakarta
The Christmas tradition in Yogyakarta is thick with local culture. Christmas in Yogyakarta is enlivened by the Wayang Wahyu art performance, namely a shadow puppet show taken from stories in the Bible. Wayang wahyu is not only an ordinary wayang art performance, but also a means to convey revelation or the word of God. Wayang wahyu is also a means to show cultural acculturation and a symbol of tolerance for diversity.
4. Ngejot and Penjor in Bali
Bali, which is identical to Hinduism, is known as an area with very high religious tolerance. The people of the Island of the Gods have traditions of every religion, including at Christmas. The community has the tradition of Ngejot and Penjor.
Ngejot is a Christmas tradition that is carried out by sharing food with each other. Uniquely, the food served is adjusted to each person's respective religion. Meanwhile, Penjor is a tradition of installing tall curved bamboos which is a form of gratitude for God's gifts.
5. Bamboo Cannons in Flores
In Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), there is a bamboo cannon tradition. This lively tradition has been carried out since the 1980s. In the past, the thunderous sound of bamboo cannons was used to convey sad news. However, over time, this Christmas tradition has been used to express joy at the birth of Jesus Christ.
6. Kunci Taon in North Sulawesi
In Manado, North Sulawesi, there is a kunci taon tradition at Christmas. This tradition literally means "locking the year", which begins when December arrives. The Kunci Taon Christmas tradition begins with a series of services in church and continues with a pilgrimage to the graves of relatives. Most Manadonese people will place decorative lights on the graves during the pilgrimage. However, the peak of the Christmas celebration will only take place on the first Sunday in January. The Kunci Taon tradition closes with a parade around using unique costumes.
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