Happy Holidays from Kathmandu
Dear Friends:

Kids just seem to love holidays, no matter where they live in the world. The children at J and K Houses, our two homes for kids in Kathmandu, want to wish you happiness on the occasion of your celebrations. They have prepared a banner and gathered on the lawn to send you greetings. I promised that I would get the picture to you. It's posted on our web site at http://www.nyof.org/newsroom/2002/christmasSurprise.html all you have to do is click on that address, and you're there in Nepal!

We find ourselves celebrating lots of holidays together here, both Western and Nepali style. My favorite Nepali holiday is Tihar, which ended last month. The last day of Tihar is reserved for sisters giving blessings to their brothers. The girls in K House are assigned a J House "brother." Each "sister" gives her "brother" a plate filled with treats, places a marigold garland around his neck, and bestows a "tikka" (a dot of red paste placed on the forehead) as a blessing. The "brother" reciprocates with a small gift. It is a ceremony with great sentiment and meaning.

Although Nepalis do not celebrate Christmas, we have a party on Christmas Eve at J and K house. Years ago, NYOF's kids got wind of the existence of Christmas. We raise them as Nepali kids, not Westerners, but we decided to give them a taste of what one of our big holidays was like. The older kids decorated J and K Houses with crepe paper, balloons, and tinsel. A tree outside was hung with lights left over from Tihar. A long-time local expatriate became Father Christmas, wearing a Santa Claus suit padded out with sleeping bags, a beard, and a hat. He appeared at the door carrying a "doko" on his back the ubiquitous local carrying basket made of bamboo with a tump line around his forehead, as is the local practice. At first the little kids were startled and puzzled by this fat guy in a red suit shouting words they had never heard before "ho, ho, ho, MERRY CHRISTMAS" and other standard Santa Claus greetings.

But then he set his basket down. We had stuffed it with bright quilted stockings made by a local cooperative of poor women. Father Christmas called each child's name and handed out stockings tied with ribbons. The kids dug in, screeching with delight at finding "chiz-biz" (Nepali for "thingamajigs") like pencils, tiny tin cars for the little boys, lotion samples for the girls, maybe a scarf or a bit of costume jewelry, a lollipop. You'd think we were giving them the latest video game or a Barbie doll.

Then the dancing began. Most Nepalese kids are expert in performing the local folk dances, and the J and K House kids are no exception. They were accompanied by older boys playing the guitar, the "madel" (the local drum), and the flute.

And so it has been for the ten years since that first Christmas here. Many more kids are invited now (the children of the staff and those from other children's homes), and the entertainment is more elaborate. What has not changed is the pure joy and excitement of these kids in their simple and loving celebrations Nepali and Western. They (and I) wish you the happiest of holidays and a very prosperous, joyous New Year.

Olga

P.S. If you haven't yet seen the kids' holiday card to you, click on http://www.nyof.org/newsroom/2002/christmasSurprise.html