VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Christmas is celebrated by around 10 % of Indonesia's 270 million people, predominantly Muslim population. This year's Christmas celebration in Indonesia is certainly different from the previous ones.

The Indonesian government has appealed for the public not to celebrate Christmas and New Year in public places because of the spike in Covid-19 cases. During the pandemic, the hope of Christians to worship Christmas at church has not yet been fulfilled. Most churches hold virtual Christmas mass. Some churches that hold Christmas mass apply specific health protocols such as bringing in swabs or limiting the number of congregations. However, it is hoped that the Christmas celebrations will be solemn and joyful.

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, a number of regions in Indonesia are preparing to welcome Christmas 2020 by making unique Christmas trees. The installation of a 12-meter-high Christmas tree with 3-dimensional lights at Jalan Thamrin 10 in Jakarta starts from 23 December 2020 to 1 January 2021. The Catholic Christ King Church in Surabaya, East Java decorated a Christmas tree with masks and hand sanitizers in an effort to raise public awareness about the Covid-19 pandemic. Starting with a bamboo frame, church congregants, and the local Muslim community decorated the tree with hundreds of colorful donated masks and hand sanitizers. It took a week to complete the three-meter-tall tree.

Tourism attractions that are usually crowded during the Christmas and New Year holidays will be closed this year to reduce the rate of transmission of Covid-19. The places are like Ancol Dreamland in North Jakarta, the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta, and the Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta.