Christmas in Africa and the Things to Do

The spirit of celebration runs deep among the African people. Most African cultures advocate for coming together and sharing. The 25th of December has been celebrated for over a century in most African communities. It marks an important day for Christian groups such as Catholics, Protestants, and most Orthodox churches. The date is meant to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ although it does not mark the real birth of Christ. In most African communities, Christmas is less about Christianity and more about family. This is the time of the year that families get together to share, love, and enjoy what they have with their loved ones. Most people visiting Africa find it very fascinating how people stay together and show love to each other. The celebratory spirit can be seen everywhere, from major cities to the smallest of villages. This party mode can be traced from the TV to the streets, clubs, churches etc. There is no better place to enjoy the joy of Christmas in its original beauty than in Africa and there are no shortages of activities for you to experience during your solstice vacation.

Enjoy Christmas Dinner with Locals

The thought of enjoying a Christmas dinner with locals in a foreign country may sound out of place but not in Africa. When you are in Africa, you can be invited to a Christmas dinner simply by chatting with a stranger on a public bus. Friendship and togetherness run throughout the continent.

A typical Christmas dinner in most African countries may not be anything close to what you have witnessed in Europe and North America. If you happen to find yourself in East Africa, you can forget all about the turkey. People here have to purchase goats from the market prior to Christmas day itself. Families may gather and roast the meat together alongside other meals.

In South Africa, a typical Christmas dinner includes mince pies and turkey. In West African countries such as Ghana and Nigeria, fufu and Okras soup are a-must-have on the table. There is a wide variety of native foods that are served across diverse African cultures. While you may not enjoy all of them, you will surely have fun and plenty of entertainment.

Enjoy the African Wild

Africa is known for being home to the ‘Big Five’ plus plenty of other amazing wild animals. South Africa and Eastern Africa stand out as the best destinations to view the big cats including the African lion, cheetah, and leopard. During Christmas vacations, most game parks are full of natives and international tourists who have traveled there for the holidays. At this time of the year, the road trips are more fun since all the tour vans are fully loaded. You get the chance to make new friends from all over the world and indulge in wild activities such as camping and animal spotting. The Kruger National Park in South Africa and the Maasai Mara in East Africa stand out among the best destinations for those looking to get in touch with the wild.

Play Games of Chance

The Christmas season comes with good tidings for many people in Africa. The spirit of winning is in the air during this special time of the year and so all those who love games of chance tend to indulge a little more than usual.

If you are a person who likes to indulge, the African continent has no shortage of options for you to try your luck. Major cities such as Johannesburg, Cape Town, Nairobi, Cairo, Accra, and Lagos all have clubs and casinos in which you can play numerous games, from blackjack to roulette. Should you find yourself being a bit too spent from your holiday feasting, there is always the option to play these games online from the comfort of your living room. Online casinos in Africa have an extensive number of games available as well as special Christmas online casino offers that are available during the holiday period.

Church Services and Caroling

Let's not forget that Christmas is a Christian tradition. In Africa, the stylistic traditional Christmas day for most religious organizations is to hold a special Christmas service. In Malawi for instance, children perform Christmas carols at door-to-door events and receive gifts from the adults. In most cities, churches hold services with special presentations in terms of songs and poems. The churches are lit with Christmas decorations for more than a week. In The Gambia, for example, people faithfully parade with lanterns to welcome the Christmas day.

Making the African Dessert

We all have that special meal that "Mama" cooked during Christmas day. In South Africa, the Malva Pudding / Lekker Pudding stands out as the specialty that most people would die for. In your African Christmas, you may enjoy making your own Malva Pudding. It is very simple to prepare with a straightforward procedure.

The African Christmas is all about fun. Young and old celebrate the spirit of Christmas and sharing and you would be hard pressed not to be swept up in the traditions. If you chose to celebrate your Christmas there, make sure to loosen up and go with the flow.