christmas

Christmas Eve

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

This piece was written by Daniel Pinkham (1923-2006) and Robert Hillyer (1895-1961). Hillyer taught at my undergraduate alma mater, the University of Delaware, from 1952 until his death. Coincidentally, Hillyer died at the age of 66 on 24 December 1961. (On a personal note both Pinkham and Hillyer are distant paternal cousins.) I think of … Continue reading Christmas Eve

Christmas (In a Time of Genocide)

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This is a guest post by Tamara Abood, a UK-based psychotherapist to corporate and creative professionals, and a lawyer. Christmas Tree for this year is not the usual Christmas tree lit in Manger Square in our little town of Bethlehem. This year our Christmas Tree in Gaza was gifted to us by Israel, decorated by … Continue reading Christmas (In a Time of Genocide)

Season’s Greetings from Vietnam!

Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary , , , ,

For your reading pleasure, here's the English version of a December 2021 article I wrote about Christmas as the kickoff to a long holiday season that culminates in Tết, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year celebration: Christmas in Vietnam: bookending a long festival season. Even though most Vietnamese identify as Buddhists, Christmas has become a popular secular holiday in recent years, which is why … Continue reading Season’s Greetings from Vietnam!

Tết: Climax of a Long Holiday Season

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Happy Year of the Cat! Below is the English version of my latest essay for VNExpress Kỳ nghỉ siêu dài, published on 22.1.23, Lunar New Year's Day. It's a continuation and elaboration of this 12-21 article for VNExpress International about Christmas as the beginning of a long holiday season in Vietnam. Shalom (שלום), MAA One of … Continue reading Tết: Climax of a Long Holiday Season

Christmas in Vietnam: bookending a long festival season

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Here's my latest essay for VNExpress International. Even though the percentage of Vietnamese who celebrate December 25 as the birth of Jesus Christ is in the single digits, Christmas has evolved into a full-fledged secular holiday in recent years. A sure sign Christmas is approaching is when elaborate and colorful holiday displays at banks and … Continue reading Christmas in Vietnam: bookending a long festival season

Christmas in Viet Nam

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St. Joseph's Cathedral, Hanoi. Photo by MAA Having lived in Viet Nam for over 15 years, I can say with absolute certainty that I enjoy Christmas here more than in the US. Even though most Vietnamese are not Christian, it is still a special and even magical time. You see children (and adults!) posing for photos … Continue reading Christmas in Viet Nam

‘Tis the Season: Celebrating the Founding of the Chu Van An High School International Club

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I had the pleasure of spending part of Christmas Eve at Chu Van An High School to celebrate the founding of the International Club.  In addition to delivering some remarks (my company, Capstone Vietnam, is a major sponsor of the club in 2012), presenting flowers and a sponsorship certificate, and participating in a lucky draw, … Continue reading ‘Tis the Season: Celebrating the Founding of the Chu Van An High School International Club