Christmas Is Cancelled

Well, shoot. We had big plans for our first Christmas in the tribe.

Our family would spend the morning opening presents under the tree and drinking hot chocolate while we listened to Willy Nelson's "Pretty Paper." (aren't you proud, Mom?) Then we would go outside to have a big meal with the entire village.

It is called a "mumu." The guys of our village go out hunting and bring back pigs, snakes, tree kangaroos, pretty much anything that can be considered meat. The ladies spend the day gathering garden food, and then they bury it all in a big hole in the ground with big hot rocks and let it cook for several hours while we all hang out and just enjoy each other's company.

Typical "mumu" meat- some chickens, a pig, some random jungle rodents

We were all looking forward to it but we had to postpone. Why, you ask? You may be thinking of typical reasons you may have to postpone your church's Christmas fellowship or potluck.

Snow storm?

Icy roads?

An outbreak of the flu?

Well, none of the above would be correct.


We are postponing because all the female dogs in the village are in heat, so none of the dogs will go hunt. With no hunting dogs there will be no meat for the party.

Didn't see that one coming did you? Neither did I. My life is always full of surprises here.

Anyway, we will still have our regular family activities and one day later this week we will get together with the believers in our village to celebrate. I don't think Jesus will mind since it isn't His real birthday anyway.

So, to all who read this blog, I hope you have a very Merry Christmas. One filled with all the joy, hope, and peace of the season, and one that is uninterrupted by the menstrual cycle of your pets.

With Lots of Holiday Cheer,

The Tribal Wife