Africa is a vast continent with pleasant climatic conditions during Christmas season. Majority of natives in African countries prefer to enjoy vacations at various places in the lap of Mother Nature. Besides, processions, parades, frolic and merriment remain as the standard customs in most of the African nations.
Beyond the standard traditions of caroling, South African population occasionally, indulges in swimming, surfing, water sports, jungle camps and picnics. In South Africa, Christmas season happens to be the hottest the part of the year forcing the people to remain in outdoor areas like beaches, mountains, hill stations and forests.
Several families choose to go on holidays at pristine locations during Christmas holidays. People often chill out on long drives in the late evenings on Christmas Day. South Africans enjoy bountiful of dishes that may include suckling pig, roast beef, turkey, mince pies, yellow rice, vegetables, puddings and cake followed by superior drink as a part of Christmas dinner.
Several houses and business premises in South Africa are decorated with the branches of pine, fir, shining cotton wool, and sequins during Christmas celebrations.
In countries like Ghana and Liberia, the traditions of Christmas decorations with palm trees, shiny flecks and evergreen and lighted candles are common. Besides decorating the home and business places, people like to carry well-decorated trees in the Christmas processions, which are marked with caroling and dancing.
Unlike South Africans who like to relax at beach side during Christmas time, natives in other African countries like the idea of gathering at town squares, streets and join the crowd in parading, singing and traditional amusement.
While South African nationals may enjoy their usual vacations at countryside but, there are few countries in the African continent that follow quite different practices of Christmas celebrations.
Christmas celebrations and activities in Ethiopia are strikingly diverse to other nations of Africa. The principal function of Christmas takes place on 7 January, Epiphany Day – Three Kings Day in South and North America.
With a large chunk of poverty-stricken population and given the overall economically poor status of several African nations, Christmas revelry last for shorter durations in comparison to other developed economies.
Most of Ethiopian population makes it a point to join the crowd at the town square in the Ethiopian capital city on the Eve of Christmas. It is like a pilgrimage for the people from remote areas of Ethiopia. It makes a beautiful sight with thousands of people participating in the Christmas mass, prayer and public merriment.
Ethiopian Christmas dinner falls in line with the traditional menu of other African nations with dishes like meat stew, rice, root vegetables, soup and bread.
What marks out as a strikingly different ritual is a scenario where people enjoy Christmas meals with families and friends under the tree and at several other open areas instead of conventional dinner table.
Christmas gifts are a universal custom not only in other continents but also in Africa. The usual items of gifts and presents include common articles of daily utility such as pencil box, books, soaps and other toiletries, clothes and consumable items. Besides the cultural traditions, financial limitations are the main reasons that could be contributed to gifts of such nature. With luxury items like camera, cellular phones and other gadgets out of reach for most of the people, the idea of bestowing these items upon children remains just as a dream.
Nevertheless, what matters is the noble intention of giving gifts, whatever small be the value. Overall, the Christmas celebrations lack the general profligacy and over spending as seen in other wealthy countries. Cultural norms, timidity, diffidence and financially weak conditions are the major reasons behind a lackluster Christmas.