West Jakarta resident Daniel Lagar Koban spent Christmas Day on Friday clearing rubble from what was left of his house in a fire-razed neighborhood.
Daniel's family home was one of the 181 houses gutted on Dec. 10 in Jembatan Besi, Tambora, West Jakarta. Amid the sorrow of losing a home, Daniel said they celebrated Christmas with joy.
"We're celebrating in whatever way we can," he says under the blue tarpaulin slung over his ruined house to protect it from the rain.
"Everything has been planned for us by the Almighty."
Millions of Christians across the country celebrated Christmas this year in relative peace. Jakarta Archbishop Julius Darmaatmadja led the Christmas mass at the Jakarta Cathedral on Friday with a message of peace.
"The Christmas message now is to be kind to all, regardless of ethnicity, religion or social condition," he said as quoted by Antara.
"This message is the right one for developing Indonesia in the spirit of pluralism."
He added differences should not be seen as a divider.
The message comes in the light of hard-line Muslim groups harassing Christian congregations attempting to build churches in Depok and Bekasi, West Java.
"This is what we're fighting against. Taking revenge is only an extension of the force of darkness, so we are going to face it peacefully," the archbishop said.
Father Peter Sarbini S.V.D., who led the first Christmas mass at St. Yosef Church in Matraman, East Jakarta, said Christians should carry the Christmas beyond the church.
Quoting Mother Teresa, he said a simple way to share the Christmas spirit was to smile at other people.
For Christmas and New Year celebrations, the National Police have launched their Operation Candle, involving 79,154 officers standing guard at several key locations, including churches, shopping malls and residential complexes, from Dec. 24 to Jan. 5.
Churchgoer Handoko said counterterrorism and Mobile Brigade officers ran a security check through the Cathedral moments before Christmas Eve mass.
In Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, and Manado, South Sulawesi, members of the youth wing of Muslim group Nahdlatul Ulama took part in helping secure Christmas services.
In the formerly sectarian conflict-ridden Ternate in North Maluku, Christians observed the day in relative safety.
"Years ago, every time we wanted to celebrate Christmas, we'd be wary about going to church, but never again," congregation member Stefanus said as quoted by Antara.
The President did not make a Christmas Day address, but palace spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha said he would address the National Christmas Celebration on Dec. 27 at the Jakarta Convention Center.
Across the country, Christmas was marked with peace and joy. Hundreds of worshipers in Dukun district, Magelang, Central Java, enjoyed a unique mass at forest spring.
Led by Father Singgih Guritno and Father Kirjito, the message was for Catholics to live closer to nature.
In the true Christmas spirit of giving, the St. Maria Church in Tulungagung, East Java, handed out clothes and food to local underprivileged residents. The church's Father Harjo said as quoted by Antara that the event was held to promote interfaith harmony.
In Surabaya, East Java, the Pondok Kasih Foundation distributed 10,000 meals in 27 poor neighborhoods.
Over in Medan, North Sumatra, the city administration held mass in Merdeka Square, attended by tens of thousands of worshipers.
Free health services were also on offer, organized by the administration's Forum for Interfaith Harmony.
Suherdjoko contributed to this report from Magelang, Central Java.
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