CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN AFRICA

Sunday, 31.Dec 2023

Although for many of the African countries Christmas comes during the summer months, accompanied by lots of sunshine and colorful flowers in full bloom, the spirit of Christmas on this continent remains the same.

Although these countries do not celebrate Christmas in a conventional like in the United States or Europe, the unique and distinct differences are worth nothing.

We all know the worldwide meaning of Christmas, on which people commemorate the birth of Christ in Bethlehem. Although historians are debating about the actual date of this birth, the overall accepted date is the 25^th of December.

In Africa, many families are separated for much of the year, with parents and grandparents living in remote villages whilst the younger generation are often far from home towns and cities, and this special time of the year brings them all together. 

While many Christmas traditions of Southern Africa were instilled by the British during the colonial era and are very similar to the traditions we have come back home , Christmas celebration in the Northern Africa region are very unique from country to country.

EAST AFRICA CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS.

On the east African Countries, Ethiopia, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania are probably the most enthusiastic towards Christmas. As with other Christmas-celebrating countries around the world, Christmas in predominantly Christians in East African countries is a time for being with extended Family. Home are decorated with ribbons and flowers, and if there’s a Christmas tree it will likely be a decorated cypress tree.

In Luganda, the Bantu language of the Banganda people, Uganda feel free to wish someone ‘Sekukkulu ennungi’. You can expect to hear ~Christmas songs blaring from radios and Tv, on the street comers and from homes, particularly songs by the iconic late Ugandan philly Bongoley Lutaaya, with classic songs.

Christmas Celebration In Kenya

 Christmas in Kenya is considered one of the biggest festivities of the year. In the villages, as they gather in their hundreds, mealtimes blend into each other and member of the family dance and sing around the fire. The typical Christmas meal is meat stew with potatoes and vegetables, accompanied by chapati or corn cake, as well as goat or cow meat on the grill.

Christmas Tradition In Egypt

Most Egyptian christians belong to the `Coptic Orthodox Church and they are the only part of the population who celebrate Christmas. The Coptic orthodox church follows the Coptic calendar, so Coptic Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on January 7^th. the 43 days before Christmas, called advent, lasts from November 25^th to January 6^th

On Christmas Eve, January 6^th, Coptic Christians attend a special church service, which normally starts around 10 pm and concludes shortly after midnight, but some last until dawn. When the Christmas service ends, they return home to break their fast with big Christmas feasts. All the dishes contain beef, poultry, eggs and all the other things they didn’t eat during the Advent fast. On Christmas day, people come together for parties and festivities.

Christmas Feast In Tanzania

 Just like in the rest of the world, a good Christmas dinner in Tanzania is a good sign. Here, families often buy a cow or a goat in January to feed it up in time for Christmas in preparation to eat it on Christmas eve. Many villages also brew their own beer to accompany the meat.

Going to church on Christmas day is very common too and many people leave home early in the morning, dressed up in new clothes, to celebrate with the community.

Christmast holidays in Zambia.

As religion plays an important role in the life of Zambian people, during these dates it can’t be missed. Many churches in Zambia perform nativity games and have a crib in the church. In additional, a couple of days before Christmas you can hear beautiful carols being sung in the local streets.

In Zanbia, the festive season is also spent with family. On the morning of the 25^th of December, the whole family exchanges gifts, just like the traditional the UK.

Braai for Christmas in South Africa.

On Christmas day in south Africa, people also visit family and friends and often choose to go to the countryside to enjoy the summer sun. those who sty in the cities, like to take their dinner out to their verandas and gardens or organize a “braai” (south Africa barbeque).

Boxing day is also a public holiday in South Africa, so people continue celebrations with festive meals, presents and picnic outside.

Christmas isn’t the same day everywhere in Africa.

While the majority of countries in Africa celebrate Christmas on December 25^th, it’s not the same everywhere. The Coptic Christians in Egypt and Ethiopia actually celebrate Christmas on January 7^th as the older Julian calender.

In Ghana, the Yuletide festivities get started soon as December arrives, with shops, streets and homes decorated in twinkling lights and ornament. There’s also double the celebration in Ghana, as Christmas falls at the same time as the end of the cocoa harvest.

Gift-giving at Christmas time

Whether you believe in Santa or not, giving out presents isn’t usually a Major African Christmas Traditions. People do share gifts with each other, but it’s also tradition to donate to the churches and orphanages with presents like clothes, books, soap, candles and toys.

One of the most popular gifts across Africa is new clothes. Whether you buy them from stores or get them tailored, almost everyone arrives at church on Christmas day rocking their new outfits. The locals also usually buy their new clothes a month before, as the shops are notorious for hiking up the prices in December since they know people will come to buy their new Christmas clothes.

Unique Christmas Decorations.

In many African countries, its tradition to string up Christmas lights and ornaments and even decorate trees, but the African Christmas trees are just a little different from your usual pine or fir tree. You’ll see everything from cypress trees to mango and palm trees bedazzled with little ornaments like bells and candle across Africa, while the big stores and hotels usually put up more extravagant decoration like fake snow.