Unique Christmas Tradition Celebration in Kampong Tugu

Jakarta, metropostnews.com - Various uniqueness and interesting traditions would be performed by every region in Indonesia, while celebrating Christmas. In Jakarta, one area that still adhere to the tradition that has lasted for generations could be found in Kampung Tugu, Koja, North Jakarta, where the descendants of Portuguese citizens living community. Various preparations of the Christmas celebration are done by residents there. In fact, the current residents have set up a place in the courtyard of the church to establish a tradition of local residents to hold Christmas celebrations.

After the Christmas service, Kampung Tugu residents have a unique tradition by doing a pilgrimage to a grave, located on the church. After that, the people running tradition called Rabo Rabo, playing Keroncong music and dancing together while traveling to visit their relatives.

"At present we are prepare activities to welcome Christmas and New Year`s Eve. The routine activities have become a tradition that took place in Tugu village," told Alexander, a local resident recently.

The song that certainly is played is Christmas songs. The residents who have been visited must follow Keroncong group to the last house. The peak of the event is in the tradition of bathing. Residents gathered at their relatives’ house; they scribbling to each other with white powder as a symbol of cleaning-up mistakes before the New Year.

Second Chairman of Daily Assembly for Tugu Church (PHMJ), Anthony Kris said, in addition to religious activities to welcome Christmas and New Year, Tugu residents do a unique tradition. "At the beginning of the year, residents of Kampung Tugu do home visiting family (fam) to be followed by a procession entourage Keroncong players. At this tradition, people visit their relatives’ houses or a family elder, and this should be followed by all citizens who live in Kampung Tugu," said Anthony Kris.

According to Kris, the ancestral heritage of this unique tradition was not only done in the early year. Later, right on January 9th, 2011, the tradition of bathing of Kampung Tugu will also be done by residents citizens after early service in Tugu Church. Tradition bathing is conducted at one of the residents’ house held alternately every year. (nez)