A peaceful American Samoa joins Christians around the world tomorrow to celebrate Christmas 2009, although in other places on Earth, conflicts and war mar the celebration of Christ’s birth.  In American Samoa, the events of Sept. 29, and the 34 deaths are a part of the observance and on everyone’s mind as well as our Toa o Samoa serving in hotspots like Afghanistan and Iraq.

Today’s it’s already Christmas in other parts of the world including neighboring Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia.

Christmas is a special day for Christianity, and especially locally—where church congregations are intricately woven into the fine mat of the Samoan culture—it is a day of giving and thanksgiving for the many blessings each and everyone in American Samoa has received this year.

Island-wide, Christmas will be marked with religious services, with some services starting after 6:00 p.m. today, others set for before midnight tonight, and then for tomorrow morning.

In his annual Christmas message released yesterday by the governor’s office, Gov. Togiola Tulafono said “every year we proudly embrace Christmas as the time to celebrate the Birth of Jesus as well as the time to reflect on the countless blessings that have become a part of our island life in American Samoa.”

He said it’s also time to express thanks for the past year as we prepare for the new year. The Governor said American Samoa has much to be thankful for. “And we will never forget Christmas 2009.”

“As we continue our transition from recovery to rebuilding our island home, we thank you for the wonderful island spirit that moves us together to help one another,” he said. “We offer our best wishes and thanks to Toa o Samoa who bravely defend us on the front lines of freedom.”

“May the love and hope through the Birth of the Prince of Peace provide comfort for all of our families whose loved one are not at home for Christmas this year,”  said Togiola and wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2010.

A check with the Manu’a Island group reveals that not much is happening there except for church services and other Christmas programs with many residents now on Tutuila for the holidays.

Getting the right gift, or any gift for that matter, kept the territory’s highway busy since Monday, when government workers got their paychecks.

Some stores were open Sunday for shoppers while many opened late since Monday and will continue to stay open later than usual tonight. Customers will be shopping not only for gifts, but for food for the Christmas feast and locally stores are prepared for any last minute rush.

There was plenty of locally grown produce at the market place in Pago Pago since early this week and more is expected to go on display today for tomorrow’s Samoan feast.

Restaurants and other eateries are offering all sorts of dining specials all the way up to tomorrow evening for those people, who want to dine out and enjoy a cozy holiday atmosphere.

The majority of the territory’s businesses will be closed tomorrow, along with the federal and local governments. However, the District Court is open, it will be hearing pending and new cases up to 12noon.

Many local residents are either in Samoa or making their way to Apia today and tomorrow making the inter Samoa route very busy for Inter Island Airways and Polynesian Airlines. Yesterday the MV Lady Naomi was in town and left loaded with passengers and cargo.

For local residents not heading to Samoa, many will spend Christmas with their families and friends. The beaches, especially Utulei Beach, are expected to be crowded—with barbecue the preferred eatery.

With the holiday in full swing, the government’s Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) Board reminds vendors, bars and restaurants that sell or serve alcohol that they must abide by the rules and regulations.

Local law states that beer taverns and alcoholic beverage licensees may sell or serve beer or alcoholic beverages from 8:00 a.m. through 2:00 a.m. the following morning. Stores are allowed up to 10:00 p.m. to sell alcohol and beer.

Police launched on Monday evening its annual holiday DUI enforcement program, beefing up road patrol, conducting road blocks at unannounced locations and checking on taverns and stores selling beer and alcohol. This includes monitoring the sale of alcohol to underage drinkers.

Police officials say it was quiet during the first two nights of the enforcement and are hopeful that it will stay that way throughout the holiday season.

There were however some public peace disturbance incidents that occurred and have since landed in District Court this week.

In observance of Christmas Day 2009, Samoa News will not publish tomorrow, but will return Saturday with the weekend edition. From all of us at Samoa News “we wish the people of American Samoa and our Toa o Samoa, Merry Christmas.”

Also our thoughts and prayers on this Christmas are with the families affected by Sept. 29 earthquake, tsunami and flooding.