Christmas Traditions

Say Safari in South Africa and one immediately thinks of hot, dusty plains filled with Mopani trees. And you wouldn’t be wrong!

Add Christmas into the equation and the picture becomes a bit skewed. Surely tinsel, angels and carols, let alone Santa in all his red and white clothing, have no location in this land of wild animals, birds and sunshine?

No snow gently falling, no fireplaces filled with roaring, log fires, mulled wine and frost, but wide, blue skies filled with sunshine, white sandy beaches with warm water lapping the shores and photographs filled with – you’ve guessed it – tinsel, angels and carols!

Historically, South Africa has had a tremendous European influence, proper from the early settlers from Germany, Holland, France and of course Excellent Britain, bringing with them their traditions of Christmas trees, holly, lights and turkey.

Several of these traditions survive with Santa visiting excited young children in his grotto in all the massive shopping malls in the run-up to the massive day, significant fir tree branches getting sold beside the road for you to take home and decorate with shiny baubles and golden stars.

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Carols blare from loud speakers proclaiming Great King Wenceslaus’ trudge by means of snow-filled forests whilst the temperature soars outside to 30 degrees in the shade. It’s definitely a distinct Christmas to those portrayed in the cards. Barbeques take the spot of the fireplace and swimming in the sea is a ought to to cool the fevered brow.

Of course, more than time, new traditions turn into woven into the fabric of the celebration, which only seeks to improve this time of year. Rather of getting the principal meal of the day at lunchtime, in South Africa it is typically moved to the cool of the evening. The long summer days encourage friends and family members to get together enjoying every others organization.

The main message of Christmas is family. Spending the time together, re-connecting in this mad, harried globe is what matters most. Remembering, giving thanks for tradition past and present, renewing our faith in 1 another.

Whether Christians, Muslims, Shintos, Buddists, Jews, Hindus or the several other religions – they all celebrate something at this time of the year and light plays a large component in most of them.

We all enjoy to drape tiny, sparkly lights into the trees in the garden candles flicker on the table glittering jewellery given as gifts the glint of sunshine on the spray of the wave crashing on rocks. It’s a celebration.

And somehow that is proper. It feels very good to be a part of something that transcends colours, creeds, hot and cold, north and south. For at least 1 day in the year every person can rejoice.