As we near the end of a calendar year and reflect on this year’s faith journey, one thing stands out for us: the Catholic Church is truly universal. We met Catholics from other parts of the world, traveled on a four-country pilgrimage (Italy, Vatican, Greece & Turkey), and became good friends with a Kenyan priest assigned at a local parish. In honor of this universality, we present Christmas around the world with a glance at seven Nativities, a most expressive expression of Christmas, and a holiday greeting in that Nativity’s native tongue.
Fröhliche Weihnachten (German) — in honor of our Holy Father’s homeland and Joel’s ancestors
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Veselé Vánoce (Czech) — in honor of Lisa’s ancestors and the world’s largest mechanized Nativity scene
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Kala Xristougenna (Greek) – in honor of new friendships developed with fellow travelers during our pilgrimage
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Feliz Navidad (Spanish) – in honor of the Spanish Jesuit missionaries who first brought Christ to the Americas
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Ithiwa na Kisimasi Kiseo (Kenyan) – in honor of the contagiously joyful spirit of Fr. George Komo, associate pastor at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in West Des Moines, Iowa, who reminds us that the United States is also mission territory
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Felix dies Nativitatis (Latin) – in honor of the revised English translation of the Roman Missal
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Mele Kalikimaka (Hawaiian) – just because it’s fun to say
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Best wishes to one and all for a blessed Christmas! Feel free to add your respective Christmas blessing in the comment box below. For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!
December 23rd, 2011 
You two are too cool for school. What a great idea! Thanks for sharing these! Merry Christmas!
Thank you! Merry Christmas to you and your family, Liz!
Neat idea! Love your reason for the Hawaiian one.
How nice. Merry Christmas a to you.
In Tagalog/Filipino, that will be ‘Maligayang Pasko’.