EDITOR’S NOTE: The Diocese of Brooklyn is known as the “Diocese of Immigrants.” Its international flavor means that Mass is celebrated in 30 languages, and church pews are filled with parishioners of many nationalities. All month, The Tablet is taking a look at how different cultures represented in the diocese celebrate Christmas. This week we focus on Egypt, Jamaica, China, Czech Republic, and Ukraine.
PROSPECT HEIGHTS — Once a year, Father Antonin Kocurek gets to play the role of a bishop.
No, he doesn’t trade vestments with the man who leads the diocese. Instead, he becomes St. Nicholas for children celebrating the holiday season in the traditions of their families’ homeland, the Czech Republic.
Father Kocurek is coordinator of the apostolate for Czech and Slovak Catholics of the Diocese of Brooklyn, and parochial vicar for Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish in Forest Hills, Queens.
St. Nicholas was a Greek bishop in Myra, Asia Minor (present-day Turkey) during the Roman Empire. According to tradition, he was famous for secretly giving gifts. Folklorists believe he inspired the legend of Santa Claus.
But in the Czech Republic, his feast day, Dec. 6, is celebrated the evening of Dec. 5 as a “trio” of characters — people dressed as St. Nicholas, an angel, and a devil — ask children if they’ve been good. If so, they get candy and treats. The bad get the infamous lump of coal, or a warning they could be taken away by the “devil” character.
In Queens, Father Kocurek plays the role of St. Nicholas at the Beer Garden at Bohemian Hall in Astoria.
“It’s like a pre-taste of Christmas,” he said. “But it’s very small gifts — nothing big — usually candy and fruit. I give them chocolates and Advent calendars.”
After a feast of holiday carp and potato salad on Christmas Eve, the family gathers for gifts — but Santa does not get the credit.
“The father hands out each gift and says, ‘Baby Jesus was here and he brought this gift for you.’ ”
Ukraine: Carol of the Bells
Father Sergiy Emanuel is coordinator of the apostolate for Ukrainian immigrants. He has had a busy year making shipments of relief supplies to his homeland while worrying about family and friends in the war-torn country.
But he became a U.S. citizen as well this year, and on Dec. 22 he will be installed as pastor of Guardian Angel Parish in Brighton Beach, where he has been the administrator for several years. He is ready for some holiday cheer.
Holiday carp is also a delicacy in Ukraine during the Sviatyi Vechir (Holy Evening) before Christmas Day, but no other meats, dairy or poultry products factor into this meal.
A dozen side dishes commemorate the 12 apostles, Father Emanuel said. Popular ingredients include mushrooms and fruits. The sweet Kutia is made of wheat berries, poppy seeds, nuts, dried fruits, and honey.
Christmas Eve also brings out carolers. People wear traditional folk costumes and some children dress up as saints, Father Emanuel said.
“They have a group moving from home to home and they sing,” he said. “They collect candy and treats.”
If that sounds like Halloween, Father Emanuel is quick to correct. “It is not Halloween,” he exclaimed. “They are honoring Christ!”
Fun fact: the popular Christmas carol, “Carol of the Bells,” is based on traditional Ukrainian folk chants.
China: Evangelism and Apples
In China, less than 1% of the population is Catholic, yet Christmas decorations are everywhere, said Father Joseph Lin, CM.
“On the malls, in the stores, you see Santa Claus, the Christmas tree, Christmas music,” he said. “And especially the church. We have the manger and the person Jesus Christ. And for the Church, it’s also a good time for evangelization.”
Father Lin is parochial vicar for the Basilica of Regina Pacis Parish, Dyker Heights. He said Midnight Mass draws big crowds on Christmas Eve.
“They organize many activities, like telling Bible stories about the Nativity of Jesus Christ,” Father Lin said. “Sometimes they have a Christmas concert.” But several hours before the Mass, Catholics gather to pray that the Mass will inspire people to become disciples of Christ.
“Many, many young people come,” he said. “It is known as ‘peace night’ — a peaceful night. They want to experience peace, real peace.”
Christmas Day is filled with gifts and feasting, with roast duck being popular holiday fare, Father Lin said.
But the message of peace continues with the sharing of Píng’ān guŎ (peace fruit) — typically apples with special decorations.
“Christmas is about Jesus Christ,” Father Lin said. “People exchange peace with one another by giving fruit. So Píng’ān guŎ is very meaningful for us at Christmas.”
Jamaica: Cake Takes a Year to Make
Christmas in Jamaica is very similar to that in the U.S. in lots of ways, said Father Francis Black, pastor of St. Matthew Parish in Crown Heights. He is the coordinator of the apostolate for We s t Indian and Caribbean immigrants.
“It’s pretty much the same traditions — the trees and the lights,” he said.
“And,” he added with a chuckle, “I remember sitting and getting really scared on Santa Claus’s lap when I was 3.”
As for holiday cuisine, he deferred to fellow Jamaican-born priest Father Dwayne Davis, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Flatlands, who loves to cook. He did not ponder on his response.
“Jamaican fruitcake,” he quickly said. “I love this cake! I watched my grandmother bake it every year.”
But this dessert is not made in a single day, Father Davis said. Ingredients include chopped fruits that have been marinating in a concoction of Jamaican rum and Red Label wine since the previous Christmas. With the cakes in the oven, grandma got busy preparing the mix for next year, he remembers.
She usually made a couple dozen cakes to share with family and friends who visit during caroling. They come out of the oven with a dark appearance that resembles chocolate cake. The texture varies among recipes, Father Davis said, but it can be spongy or “pudding-like.”
Father Black said any activity involving the Church demands everyone wear their Sunday best — men in suits and ties, women in their best dresses and hats. Christmas was no exception. Father Davis agreed, and noted that the attire worn to Midnight Mass was the same worn all day on Christmas.
As for Christmas feasts, just think of Sunday Dinner on overdrive, Father Davis said.
“Sundays were always feast days, when you enjoyed all the important foods,” he said. “So, fried chicken, curry goat, coconut rice and peas, jerk pork — stuff like that. All the goodies.”
Egypt: Holy Family’s Heritage
A reader who opens a travel book or website and looks for “Christmas in Egypt” will be bombarded with descriptions of how the holiday is celebrated on Jan. 7. But take note, that is the date for the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Dec. 25 is the date recognized by Coptic Catholics, said Msgr. Francis Fayez, pastor of Resurrection Coptic Catholic Church in Park Slope. He is coordinator of the apostolate for Arab-speaking Catholics in the diocese.
Christians in Egypt are about 10% of the population. Of that group, 1% are Coptic Catholics in full union with Pope Francis as their leader.
Msgr. Fayez said they observe with special pride the Holy Family’s time in Egypt, where they sought refuge having fled Bethlehem to escape King Herod’s “massacre of the innocents.”
He happily motioned to a wall of his church, which originally served a Polish parish. One of the paintings that came with the building depicts Baby Jesus, Mother Mary, and Father Joseph traveling with their donkey. It is a rare image in Western churches, Msgr. Fayez said, because it shows pyramids in the background.
“It was a good sign,” he said, that his parish had found the perfect home.
Holdays are a time of goodwill among religions in Egypt, Msgr. Fayez said. At Christmastime, Christians share special holiday cookies with their Muslim neighbors. Muslims do likewise during Ramadan, he said.
And, like Muslims, the Coptic Catholics fast in the days leading to the holiday. For them it is two weeks. After midnight Mass, they finally have a feast with duck, lamb, or beef, along with cabbage or grape leaves stuffed with savory rice. Msgr. Fayez’s favorite? Roast rabbit.
Some Catholics in Egypt put up Christmas trees, but place much greater emphasis on images of the Holy Family in the stable. This year at Resurrection, there are two nativity scenes, one at the back of the church, and the other outside. Neither has a Baby Jesus, but the child will appear on Christmas Eve, according to tradition.