Interkulturell, Interreligiös, Intellektuell
Ihren Höhepunkt erreichte die dreitägige Aktion “Christmas For All – Weihnachten Für Alle“ am 21.12.2018 mit der großartigen Teilnahme begeisterter Menschen aller Religionen und Kulturen an der Abschlussfeier.
Hier geht es zum Video:
Being full of Christmas Spirit is when you celebrate together with people of all religions, all cultures and share unlimited love," thought the initiators of a special event: the lighting and decorating of a fishing boat anchored in Beacharena - Munich's largest outdoor beach and tennis facility.
Behind the idea are people who are completely different, but have one thing in common: they are unconventional and always want to be on the ball. In this sense, Ethno News publisher Victoria Mali, Archpriest Apostolos Malamoussis and tennis instructor Christos Theodosiadis, wanted to revive an old Greek Christmas tradition in Bavaria.
The ritual goes back to a time, where children − in memory of their supposedly lost fathers who were sailors − manufactured a wooden ship, decorated it, shone a light on it and then sang Christmas carols for their dads.
Further, the practice shows the emotional attachment of people from South to the sea. Moreover, Jesus is the port of their life, which they always try to reach by the ship of hope as long as they live. But even after death, the journey to eternity continues − according to Greek and Roman mythology − by boat.
Last but not least, the element of water has nowadays another dimension as it reminds on the growing tensions in Aegean Sea as well as on people who died on the Mediterranean, which turned into Europe’s graveyard.
However, Christmas is not only a time of reflection, but also the feast of love. The Christian charity and especially the love for dissenters was shared together with Muslims, Jews, Yazidis, animists, agnostics and atheists all over the world under the motto "Christmas For All".
On behalf of the entire Organization Committee and the attenders, Ethno News expresses its gratefulness and indicates that:
Against hate, superiority complex, privileges, ignorance and apathy, it is now − more necessary than ever − to keep the Christian-humanitarian tradition alive in order to (re)activate those moral and human reflexes and stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers all over the place. It's a tough job, but in the same time the price of owning everything life has to offer.
Presseecho
Süddeutsche Zeitung
Kathimerini
Elliniki Gnomi
Photos: Ingrid Grossmann, Video: Cyclist Of The World