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People
from different communities in Kirklees have been popping in to schools
to talk to children about how they celebrate Christmas and the children
have transformed the 'sheds' into cribs to reflect these traditions.
Olga
and Dennis from Ukraine went in to school in traditional dress,
Mr Brown from Jamaica explained how banana leaves are used to decorate
cribs instead of hay while Yaqub from the Asian Christian Fellowship
sang, "Oh, Come All Ye Faithful" in Urdu and talked about
the figure of Jesus being laid in a manger full of rice stalks.
The
cribs were carried into Huddersfield Parish Church by the children
during a special service on Saturday, December 11th and they will
remain on display there until January 7th.
'Angels
and Sheds' is part of 'A Christmas To Remember,' organised by the
Kirklees Community History Service, which also includes an exhibition
at the Tolson Museum, 'Szopki
In The Snow,' as well as a special Polish Christmas celebration,
'Wesolych Swiat'
(Happy Christmas).
As
happens in Poland non-traditional Nativity characters have been
included in each crib. The Asian crib has a school lollipop lady
while Huddersfield Town striker Pawel Abbott is in the Polish crib
and artist and all-round genius Leonardo Da Vinci appears in the
Italian crib.
Community
Education Officer Kim Strickson, who has organised the project,
says: "I was so pleased to see such a variety of cultures represented
in the church. For some people, it was the first time they'd ever
set foot inside a church! The willingness to share traditions, knowledge
and music was obviously so strong, it transcended any barriers of
faith and race."
The Szopki
In The Snow photo exhibition runs at Tolson Museum, Huddersfield until
January 30th, 2005 and the Angels and Sheds cribs will remain on display
at Huddersfield Parish Church until January 7th, 2005. |
