December in Slovenia

In Slovenia, the Christmas atmosphere is felt already in the first days of December. Many in the Focolare community have learned to make advent wreaths which they sell and then allocate the revenues to social purposes.
The feast of St. Nicholas is on 6 December and he goes around with sacks full of gifts on this day. It is an occasion in which families in need are able to experience the fantasy of Divine Providence, through the collection and redistribution of all the surpluses of many families. In the exchange, some detach themselves from objects they are attached to sentimentally, which become gifts for the others, and everyone experiences the typical joy that arises from ”giving.”

And while some members of the various communities deliver the proceeds of the wreaths to humanitarian actions in the territory, as they do every year, the Youth for a United World gather at the Arche (the Movement of Jean Vanier) for a unique sharing experience. In other districts, they visit the centre for single mums, bringing joy and warmth to all. The dates of these initiatives are first published on Facebook, extending the invitation to other youths to go out together to gather and distribute gifts.

The smaller ones instead organise themselves in the streets to offer the little statues of Baby Jesus, that they have handcrafted themselves. It is not a sale, but an awareness campaign to bring the focus to the real protagonist of Christmas. But many leave offerings which they devolve to poor children. This is why they choose the big malls as the location for their campaign, as well as the homes for the aged, of relatives and next-door neighbours, and the midnight masses. In one of the towns, also the mayor went to visit. In a shopping centre, the Gen 4, and bigger kids (Kids for Unity) held a Christmas flashmob, giving a hand to the smaller ones who were thus able to distribute their 125 statuettes.

In 18 Slovenian districts, there was also a fixed date for Christmas preparations. The entire community gathered together, with the participation of around 1,300 people, among whom was also a bishop. One of the communities wanted to pass the Epiphany together, and went to visit Baby Jesus in an old church on the hill. The group was accompanied along the trails in the woods by the Magi who also wanted to follow the star. Along the way they came across Herod who begged the Magi to return to him once they had found the Child. But suddenly an angel appeared to invite them to take another route home.  This was exactly what the whole group did, choosing an alternative path. After this real-life staging, nobody would ever forget how Baby Jesus was saved from the anger of Herod.

Of great significance were the Christmas stage plays held in the two Slovenian kindergartens, which drew inspiration from the educational games of unity: “Sun Ray” of Škofja Loka and  “Jurček” in Grosuplje. The latter was held in the city’s Cultural Centre. Though many of those present declared to be agnostics, the intense atmosphere engaged them all. They followed the stage play of the Nativity of Jesus with great attention and in the end many joined in the children’s songs, and no longer wanted to leave.