Christmas traditions in our territory are unique to our four nations, but each country has a commonality, and the team here in the Communications Department have put together special memories that we hope will remind you of your own special and nostalgic memories of Christmases past.
Illustration: Erika Gesmundo
Memories of Christmases Past Home for the Holidays This is an illustration of our family home in the Philippines that brings all the good memories of Christmas joy for me. We lived at this house with my grandparents until my teenage years. It was a yearly tradition of my mum’s side of the family to come over to our place to celebrate Christmas. My mum had six brothers and, together with all their families, everyone would arrive with presents and food to share. The house was always filled with so much celebration, joy and love. Nicole Gesmundo, Graphic Designer
Wonderfully Made These handmade Christmas stockings never fail to bring me joy! Every year when I get them out, I’m instantly transported to our ‘beach life’ in Gisborne, where we lived when our children were preschoolers. It was a season spent building sandcastles and paddling in the ocean, as we created memories with wonderful friends and our beautiful faith community. The Christmas stockings were handmade by Heidi Berry not just for my children (and Mat and I), but for every child on the Gisborne Salvation Army Mainly Music roll in 2003! As well as beautifully sewing over 60 stockings, Heidi hand-painted every child’s name on their very own Christmas stocking—a labour of love reflective of Heidi’s desire that every Mainly Music parent would catch a glimpse of God’s bespoke love for them and the truth that they are fearfully and wonderfully made! Jules Badger, Senior Writer 18
December 2023
