Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve

Julaftonen (Christmas Eve), a 1904–05 watercolor painting by Carl Larsson
Also called Day before Christmas
Night before Christmas
Observed by Christians and many non Christians


Type Christian, cultural
Significance Day or evening preceding the traditional birthday of Jesus
Date December 24
Observances
Gift shopping, gift giving, goodwill greetings, Midnight Mass, other church services, meals, preparations for the arrival of Christmas gift-bringers, Matzo Ball
Related to Christmas Day, Christmastide, New Year's Eve

Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25. It is a culturally significant celebration for most of the Western world and is widely observed as a full or partial holiday in anticipation of Christmas Day.

One reason celebrations occur on Christmas Eve is because the traditional Christian liturgical day starts at sunset, an inheritance from Jewish tradition, which in turn is based in the story of creation in Genesis: "And there was evening, and there was morning – the first day." This liturgical day is followed for all days in the Eastern rite and the custom of beginning Christmas celebration (as well as Sunday and the other major festivals) in the preceding evening is preserved in western Churches that have altered the liturgical day to start at midnight, for example the Roman Catholic Church. Many churches still ring their church bells and hold prayers in the evening before holidays; for example the Nordic Lutheran churches. In some languages, such as the Scandinavian, Christmas Eve is simply referred to as "Christmas Evening".

Since Christian tradition holds that Jesus was born at night (based in Luke 2:6-8), Midnight Mass is celebrated on Christmas Eve, traditionally at midnight, in commemoration of his birth. The idea of Jesus being born at night is reflected in the fact that Christmas Eve is referred to as "Heilige Nacht" ("Holy Night") in German, "Nochebuena" ("the Good Night") in Spanish and similarly in other expressions of Christmas spirituality, such as the song "Silent Night, Holy Night".

Nominally religious people, or people who are not formal with definitions, may see the whole day as a day of celebration or as just the day before Christmas. Millions of people around the world with no Christian or religious affiliation or background also celebrate Christmas and Christmas Eve. The emphasis of celebration on Christmas Eve varies from country to country and region to region. ( Wikipedia)

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The Christmas Story of the Birth of Jesus

By Mary Fairchild, About.com Guide

This Christmas story gives a biblical account of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ. The Christmas story is paraphrased from the New Testament books of Matthew and Luke in the Bible.

References:
Matthew 1:18-25; Matthew 2:1-12; Luke 1:26-38; Luke 2:1-20.
The Conception of Jesus Foretold
Mary, a virgin, was living in Galilee of Nazareth and was engaged to be married to Joseph, a Jewish carpenter. An angel visited her and explained to her that she would conceive a son by the power of the Holy Spirit. She would carry and give birth to this child and she would name him Jesus.
At first Mary was afraid and troubled by the angel's words. Being a virgin, Mary questioned the angel, "How will this be?" The angel explained that the child would be God's own Son and, therefore, "nothing is impossible with God." Humbled and in awe, Mary believed the angel of the Lord and rejoiced in God her Savior.

Surely Mary reflected with wonder on the words found in Isaiah 7:14 foretelling this event, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." (NIV)

The Birth of Jesus:
While Mary was still engaged to Joseph, she miraculously became pregnant through the Holy Spirit, as foretold to her by the angel. When Mary told Joseph she was pregnant, he had every right to feel disgraced. He knew the child was not his own, and Mary's apparent unfaithfulness carried a grave social stigma. Joseph not only had the right to divorce Mary, under Jewish law she could be put to death by stoning.
Although Joseph's initial reaction was to break the engagement, the appropriate thing for a righteous man to do, he treated Mary with extreme kindness. He did not want to cause her further shame, so he decided to act quietly. But God sent an angel to Joseph in a dream to verify Mary's story and reassure him that his marriage to her was God's will. The angel explained that the child within Mary was conceived by the Holy Spirit, that his name would be Jesus and that he was the Messiah, God with us.

When Joseph woke from his dream, he willingly obeyed God and took Mary home to be his wife, in spite of the public humiliation he would face. Perhaps this noble quality is one of the reasons God chose him to be the Messiah's earthly father.

Joseph too must have wondered in awe as he remembered the words found in Isaiah 7:14, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." (NIV)

At that time, Caesar Augustus decreed that a census be taken, and every person in the entire Roman world had to go to his own town to register. Joseph, being of the line of David, was required to go to Bethlehem to register with Mary. While in Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to Jesus. Probably due to the census, the inn was too crowded, and Mary gave birth in a crude stable. She wrapped the baby in cloths and placed him in a manger.

The Shepherd's Worship the Savior:
Out in the fields, an angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds who were tending their flocks of sheep by night. The angel announced that the Savior had been born in the town of David. Suddenly a great host of heavenly beings appeared with the angels and began singing praises to God. As the angelic beings departed, the shepherds decided to travel to Bethlehem and see the Christ-child.
There they found Mary, Joseph and the baby, in the stable. After their visit, they began to spread the word about this amazing child and everything the angel had said about him. They went on their way still praising and glorifying God. But Mary kept quiet, treasuring their words and pondering them in her heart. It must have been beyond her ability to grasp, that sleeping in her arms—the tender child she had just borne—was the Savior of the world.

The Magi Bring Gifts:
After Jesus' birth, Herod was king of Judea. At this time wise men (Magi) from the east saw a star, they came in search, knowing the star signified the birth of the king of the Jews. The wise men came to the Jewish rulers in Jerusalem and asked where the Christ was to be born. The rulers explained, "In Bethlehem in Judea," referring to Micah 5:2. Herod secretly met with the Magi and asked them to report back after they had found the child. Herod told the Magi that he too wanted to go and worship the babe. But secretly Herod was plotting to kill the child.
So the wise men continued to follow the star in search of the new born king and found Jesus with his mother in Bethlehem. (Most likely Jesus was already two years of age by this time.) They bowed and worshipped him, offering treasures of gold, incense, and myrrh. When they left, they did not return to Herod. They had been warned in a dream of his plot to destroy the child.

Selebi won't leave hospital - doctors

Selebi won't leave hospital - doctors
2011-12-23 16:44

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Pretoria - Convicted former national police chief, Jackie Selebi, is too sick to be discharged from hospital, said correctional services commissioner, Tom Moyane, on Friday.

He said the department had been informed by doctors at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria that Selebi's condition did not permit him to be released from hospital.

Moyane, together with members of the department's executive management team, received a briefing from the team of doctors treating Selebi.

"Mr Selebi will continue to receive treatment at the hospital and his condition, at present, does not permit for his removal and re-admittance at the Pretoria Correctional Centre to continue serving his sentence due to the seriousness of his condition."

A joint press briefing on details of his health will now be held on December 28 by the team of doctors, correctional services department and Selebi's family.

The department has said Selebi is being treated for "kidney related problems".

Selebi, 61, was taken to the nephrology (kidney) ward of the northern Pretoria hospital on Monday morning under armed guard.

The disgraced former police chief was booked into prison on December 5 to start a 15-year jail term. He was found guilty of corruption after he accepted money from convicted drug trafficker Glenn Agliotti, and giving him benefits that included showing him a British drug investigation report. Selebi was president of Interpol at the time.

His appeal against his corruption conviction failed in the Supreme Court of Appeal on December 2. Selebi watched the judgment on television at home and collapsed when he heard the outcome, Coetzee said at the time.


- SAPA

Read more on: tom moyane | jackie selebi | pretoria | crime

I am clean, says MEC who faces charges over fraud

I am clean, says MEC who faces charges over fraud
23 Dec 2011 | Sowetan Reporter
FORMER North West MEC for education, Reverend Johannes Tselapedi, says his arrest on Tuesday is a ploy to damage his image.
ACCUSED: Johannes Tselapedi "The plot is thickening in North West against the innocent," Tselapedi said in Mahikeng yesterday.

He said it was up to the court to decide whether he was guilty, but he was confident he would come out clean.

Tselapedi also warned that North West should guard against "a phenomenon where the corrupt paint themselves as angels and innocent people are painted as corrupt".

Tselapedi was arrested with former head of department Mathanzima Mweli and suspended head of department Charles Raseala for fraud and corruption amounting to more than R12-million.

The three appeared on Tuesday ain the Mmabatho Regional Court a few hours after the Hawks raided their homes.

They were charged with four counts of corruption, eight counts of fraud and money laundering.

Tselapedi had further four counts of contravention with the Public Finance Management Act.

He was granted R250000 bail while Mweli and Raseala were given R500000 bail each. They remained in police custody for further police investigation until February 20.

Tselapedi also questioned the manner in which he was arrested.

"The rights of people are not fully explained and some documents are not given, ultimately you start to wonder, is this an ordinary arrest or are there some referrals and intentions. It is going to be a battle," he said.

Former mayor of Ngaka Modiri Molema, Themba Ngwabeni - who has just rejoined the ANC from Cope - said he and Tselapedi were friends who have suffered the same bad treatment.

"I have gone through a similar situation. We both stand for the truth and I trust him. I know that he will not even steal a cent from his church. I know that we will go through this together. Side-by-side we will continue to be friends."

Malema’s R4m farm

Old McDonald had a farm,
Ei-I-Ei-I-O
And on this farm he had a duck
Ei-I-Ei-I-O
With a quack quack here
And a quack quack there,
Here a quack, there a quack,
Everywhere a quack quack,
Old McDonald had a farm
Ei-I-Ei-I-OOOO



Malema’s R4m farm
2011-12-24 10:00

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Suspended ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema has added a massive R4-million farm to his property portfolio.

City Press can reveal that ­Gwama Properties, a company partly owned by Malema’s ­Ratanang Family Trust, bought the farm Schuilkraal – 139 hectares of prime agricultural land near Polokwane?– in August.

The farm was ostensibly bought for cash as no bond was registered.

Malema has on numerous ­occasions hinted he would like to take up cattle farming if kicked out of the ANC.

On Thursday the firebrand youth leader, who was elected to the ­provincial executive committee of the Limpopo ANC this week, ­denied owning a farm.

“Who said Gwama is mine? Get your facts right. There is no farm that I bought. Julius Malema has got no farm,” Malema said.
He added that he was on holiday, and wished City Press a happy ­Christmas.

The following challenge ­Malema’s denial of partly owning the farm:
» The Mail & Guardian revealed that Gwama was partly owned by the Ratanang Family Trust.
Malema had never challenged this;

» Neighbours of Schuilkraal (“shelter kraal” in Dutch) told ­Beeld in August that the previous owner, Dries Kotzé, told them that Malema had visited him on the farm with the intention of buying the property and that he was a “gentleman”;

» Kotzé admitted that Malema initially offered R1.5 million for the farm, but he declined the offer;

» But neighbours said Malema later agreed to pay R3.5 million for the farm in “two or three ­instalments”, putting down an R800 000 cash deposit.

At the time, Kotzé told Beeld that the transaction had collapsed ­because of all the media attention on Malema.

But deeds office records show that the purchase went through on July 28 and that the property was registered to Gwama on August 31.

Malema’s former business ­associate at SGL Engineering, Lesiba Gwangwa, is the sole director of Gwama Properties.

The company also owns another R1.4 million house in the ­upmarket Faranani Estate in Polokwane, where Malema’s son and mother stay.

Schuilkraal is Malema’s second farm. City Press revealed in July the Ratanang Family Trust also owned a smallholding on the farm Palmietfontein, which was bought for R900 000 in cash.

Gwangwa is the chief executive of On-Point Engineering, the ­tender-rich company also partly owned by Malema’s family trust, which is currently the subject of a Hawks and Public Protector ­investigation.

On-Point has earned millions from Limpopo government contracts, including a R51?million ­tender from the roads and transport department to run a project management unit.

Malema’s spokesperson, Floyd Shivambu, accused City Press of a “fishing expedition” and of diverting attention “after every progress made by the ANC Youth League and its leadership”.

In an interview with the Sunday Times last month, Malema said he already had 20 cattle and “will breed them, take them to the ­abattoir, slaughter them and then sell the meat”.

In May Malema told residents of Alexandra that land should be ­expropriated from white people without compensation.

“We need fearless leaders who will tell these whites we are putting our people here for free. We have to buy land from whites when they did not even buy land from us. This is confirmation that we must get the land for free,” Malema said.

Last year, on his return from Zimbabwe, Malema praised ­President Robert Mugabe’s land seizures and called on South ­Africa’s youth to engage in agricultural activity.

Malema has appealed his five-year suspension from the ANC. His appeal is due to be heard next month.
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Public Protector ‘probing Malema’
2011-11-04 16:34


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Public Protector Thuli Madonsela is reportedly probing claims of irregular tenders awarded by the Limpopo government to a company linked to ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema.

The outcome of the investigation was expected before the end of the year, the Public Protector’s office told the SABC today.

At the centre of the investigation was On-Point Engineering, a company in which Malema reportedly held shares, and state entities involved in awarding the tenders to the company.

Malema was also being investigated by the Hawks.

Madonsela’s spokesperson Kgalalelo Masibi told the SABC the Hawks and the Public Protector had pinpointed their respective areas of investigation to avoid any duplication.

During the probe, questions would also be asked about the involvement of Malema’s Ratanang Family Trust.


- SAPA
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ANCYL plans to ‘embarrass’ parent body
2011-12-24 10:00


Mmanaledi Mataboge, Sabelo Ndlangisa and Carien du Plessis
Julius Malema’s ANC Youth League (ANCYL) plans to “embarrass” the ANC if his appeal against a five-year suspension from the party fails.

City Press understands that if Malema’s appeal fails:
» The league will refuse to elect an acting president until the current term comes to an end in 2014.

“The idea is to embarrass the ANC. It will be in a form of protest to tell them that they forced us into this situation,” said a youth league source;

» Malema’s deputy, Ronald Lamola, will run the league “but only as a deputy president, and he’ll make it known that he’s not the acting president or the president”, said a government source close to Malema’s inner circle; and

» Although Malema’s appeal is only expected to be heard after the ANC’s January 8 celebrations, Malema is planning to embarrass President Jacob Zuma from the main stage in Bloemfontein.

At least four sources within the ANC and the league claimed efforts were under way to ensure that Malema didn’t share the stage ­
with Zuma.

“They fear that Julius is going to develop some selective amnesia and embarrass the president by excluding his name when he mentions other presidents,” said the source.

In recent public speeches Malema has been avoiding Zuma’s name when praising former ANC presidents, but instead mentioned his deputy and former president, Kgalema Motlanthe.

The ANC’s leagues traditionally deliver messages of support at events such as these.

Cyril Ramaphosa, who chairs the ANC’s national disciplinary committee of appeals, said he expected Malema’s appeal to be heard between January 19 and 23.

He said representatives from both sides would file papers and lead arguments, but there would be no need for witnesses to be examined.

Malema won a small battle this week by being elected to ANC structures in his home province, Limpopo.

But he still has a mountain to climb to save his political career.

His election to the party’s provincial executive committee was part of a plan to save him from his five-year suspension.

But cracks are showing in this plan?– Malema only managed to come in at number 17 out of the 20 additional members in the provincial executive committee, with the support of just more than half of the delegates.

Delegates at this week’s conference resolved to ask the ANC to consider a “political solution” for the “problems” between the ANC and the youth league.

This, in effect, was a demand for Malema’s suspension to be lifted.

ANC Limpopo spokesperson David Masondo said the resolution was made “because there seems to be different conceptions of the role of the youth league in society and the ANC, and this can’t be answered by the narrow disciplinary mechanism”.

“This is not just about Julius, but what the role of the youth league should be in society as a whole.”

Malema’s supporters were rallying other sympathetic provinces to take similar resolutions. Sources said ANC secretaries in North West, Gauteng, Free State and Western Cape were sympathetic to him.

- City Press

Corruption obstacle to foreign investment in South Africa

Corruption obstacle to foreign investment in SA
December 2011
SABC

Last month President Jacob Zuma fired Ministers Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde and Sicelo Shiceka for corruption.(SABC)

Some analysts have warned that deals that enrich the politically-connected in sectors such as mining are among the obstacles to foreign investment in South Africa.



Their warning comes after former national police commissioner Jackie Selebi lost a corruption conviction appeal in the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein yesterday. He has until tomorrow afternoon to hand himself over to the Johannesburg prison to start his 15-year jail term.




Last month, President Jacob Zuma fired two cabinet ministers in a bid to dispel criticism that he was soft on graft. President Zuma also suspended Selebi's replacement, Bheki Cele, pending an inquiry into an irregular multi-million-rand lease for new police headquarters. President Zuma has launched a fresh inquiry into a multi-billion-rand arms deal.






Corruption and bribery are getting worse in South Africa, according to a survey by anti-corruption organisation

Corruption and bribery are getting worse in South Africa, according to a survey by anti-corruption organisation Transparency International. In four out of the six countries surveyed in southern Africa, people reported paying bribes to speed up services.




In South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo more bribes were paid to avoid problems with authorities. The survey surveyed more than 6000 people in the DRC, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.




Across the region, 62% of people believed corruption had become worse in the past three years. Those polled in all six countries named police as the most corrupt service provider.



At least 52.8% of South Africans surveyed by Statistics South Africa say they have been asked to pay a bribe to a traffic official to avoid a fine. Stats SA conducted the Victims of Crime 2011 survey to assess the experiences South Africans had with corruption.




The survey showed that 5.6% of households had been asked to pay a bribe to government officials between 2008 and 2010. The results further showed that 15.9% paid for drivers licenses and 13.8% of job seekers paid for work.

Breakthrough in 'holiday' rape case

Breakthrough in 'holiday' rape case
By: Jonathan Erasmus, Zululand Fever

2011-12-23 15:57
Richards Bay - The suspects who are believed to be involved in the rape a Gauteng woman who was holidaying in Richards Bay appeared in the Richards Bay Magistrate's Court on Friday.

The 38-year old rape victim from Vanderbijlpark was raped in front of her son, nephew and their two friends at their self-catering unit in the upmarket suburb of Meerensee at approximately 21:30 November 21. The victims had only just arrived an hour earlier for a five day vacation.

The five suspects were arrested in Ventersdorp on Monday in Van Riebeeck St by the SAPS tactical operational management section.

The accused were also found in the possession of two firearms. They are also linked to other cases in Douglasville, Mahikeng and Ventersdorp.

According to Richards Bay police spokesperson Captain Debbie Ferreira the suspects, some of who are from the Eshowe area in Northern KZN and from the Bulwer area, Durban, appeared in the Richards Bay on a charge of house robbery and rape.

Elderly couple

Only one of the accused allegedly raped the 38-year old woman. However, which suspect it may be has yet to be determined.

"The suspects might be linked to more cases. This arrest is the culmination of extensive police work and collaboration between various units within the SAPS," said Ferreira.

The case has been remanded until 30 January 2012.

After raping the mother and ransacking the self-catering unit; allegedly four armed suspects entered another self-catering unit on the same property and held an elderly couple at gunpoint while they searched the house, also threatening them with rape and murder.

The suspects took the rape victim, her son, nephew and their two friends into the elderly couple's unit where they proceeded to tie them all up with shoelaces.

The suspects then fled in the rape victim's BMW X5 which they later dumped in nearby eSikhawini.

Read more on: durban | crime

President playing musical chairs with SIU

President playing musical chairs with SIU
SIPHO MASONDO | 22 December, 2011 00:234 Comments



http://youtu.be/Ih3NpEEPYa0

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Zuma appoints acting head of SIU
Heath resigns President Jacob Zuma has removed Nomgcobo Jiba as acting head of the Special Investigating Unit barely a week after her appointment. He has replaced her with the deputy national director of public prosecutions, Nomvula Mokhatla.
Zuma spokesman, Mac Maharaj, would not explain Jiba's removal.

She was appointed after the resignation of Willem Heath, who had been in the job for about two weeks.

Heath, who replaced Willie Hofmeyr after Zuma axed him, resigned after saying that former president Thabo Mbeki had been behind rape and corruption charges against Zuma.

Department of Justice spokesman Tlali Tlali said: "We indicated last week that the president has initiated the process that will lead to the appointment of the new head of the SIU. The vacancy left by the resignation of Heath will be filled soon.

"There is an acting head appointed to hold the fort before the position is filled."

A source close to the National Prosecuting Authority, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: "It's a better move than the previous one. I do think the minister [Jeff Radebe] wanted someone who is not followed by controversy."

In 2007, Jiba was suspended for her role in the arrest of then Gauteng head of Scorpions, Gerrie Nel. This was at the height of the tensions between the Scorpions and the police over a corruption investigation into then national police commissioner Jackie Selebi.