If choosing the day of birth were possible, few dates would rival Christmas Day for many Christians. This year, parents who welcomed babies on December 25 described the experience as a rare blessing; one that turned a sacred holiday into a deeply personal celebration of new life. Some of the parents who welcomed babies on Thursday told The New Times that the experience felt like a victory. They described it as a blessing, a moment of pride and deep gratitude. ALSO READ: Mothers’ bundles of joy, gratitude, on Christmas Day At Kacyiru Hospital, where five boys and four girls had been born by noon on Christmas Day, Diane Umutoniwase, a resident of Gatenga Sector in Kicukiro District, was among the joyful mothers who gave birth, with the hospital recording an average of between 15 and 18 deliveries daily. Umutoniwase had always wished for such a moment although she never expect it to happen. ALSO READ: Nearly 900 babies born in Rwanda on Christmas Day She described the birth as a proud moment for her family. They named the baby boy Eden Shema Gwiza. The name, Shema, reflects pride and gratitude. “This coincides with the birth of Jesus Christ,” she said. “This baby boy is a gift from God. He came after our firstborn, a girl, who is now two years old.” Christmas Day holds a special meaning for her family. “It is a day that encourages people to avoid bad acts,” she said. ALSO READ: Rwanda records 1,800 births on Christmas, New Year’s Day Patrick Mbonigaba, also a resident of Gatenga Sector in Kicukiro District, said the birth of his child on Christmas Day felt like a personal victory. “Having a baby on Christmas Day feels like a victory for me,” he said. Mbonigaba welcomed his second child, a baby girl, following a two-and-a-half-year-old boy. His family had not anticipated the birth happening on Christmas Day. “We were surprised to have a baby on this day,” he said. “Now, when we celebrate Christmas, we will also be celebrating our baby’s birthday.” His wife, Fanny Mbonyinka, was filled with gratitude. “I do not have much to say, except thanking God,” she said. “I was just waiting, without knowing that I would be surprised with this kind of Christmas gift.” At Kibagabaga Level Two Teaching Hospital, Anitha Gahongayire, a resident of Bumbogo Sector in Gasabo District, gave birth to her first child. “Having your firstborn on the same day that Jesus Christ was born is really a blessing,” she said. Gahongayire arrived at the hospital at around 8am and gave birth shortly after midday. “I am grateful, because some of my colleagues spent days here waiting. I was lucky to give birth without struggling for a long time.” Data from the Ministry of Health show that on Christmas day last year, at least 887 babies were born across the country. Of these, 467 were girls. At the time, Eastern Province recorded the highest number of Christmas births, with 241 newborns.
