–– Paul Schlehlein
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Christmas did not exist in Africa before Christianity reached its shores. Christianity did not exist in Africa before the missionaries brought it. Therefore, Africans have missionaries to thank for the Christmas holidays.
Christmas is the holiday in which Christians celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus. Specifically, Christmas commemorates the incarnation, when God assumed human nature in the person of Christ. Unlike theophonies in the Old Testament, where Jesus appeared in human form temporarily, the incarnation was fixed and permanent, so that even today Jesus dwells in a glorified human body and maintains a human nature.
Only a few countries do not recognize Christmas as a public holiday, a remarkable testament to the influence of Christianity across the globe. Each of these nations are hostile to Christianity, nearly half of them in Africa, including Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Somalia, and Tunisia.
African countries enjoy several unique Christmas traditions. Here’s a survey of just a few.
African Christmas Traditions
In Angola, Christian missionaries introduced Christmas to the country in the 15th century. This predominantly Catholic nation celebrates Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and Mass on Christmas Day. A staple dish includes pirão, fried dough made from cornmeal. This former Portuguese colony wishes a Merry Christmas by saying Feliz Natal.
In Botswana, workers in the cities start returning to their home villages a week or two before Christmas. Sometimes choirs will create special uniforms just for the Christmas church service. In Congo DRC, big choirs and Christmas dramas are popular, sometimes extending into the dawn of Christmas Day. Merry Christmas in Lingala is Mbotama Malamu.
In Egypt, the country’s small percentage of Christians (called Coptics), celebrate Christmas on 7 January. During Advent, from 25 November to 6 January, the Coptic Orthodox Church observes the Holy Nativity Fast, where members will not eat products that come from animals. The Christmas Eve service begins late in the evening and finishes well past midnight. The Christmas Day feast includes all the foods they couldn’t eat for the past 43 days! In Eritrea and Ethiopia, they follow the calendar and fasting rituals of Egypt. Ethiopians also enjoy a candlelight service on Christmas and special games for the men called ganna and yeferas guks.
In Ghana, the world’s second largest producer of cocoa includes plenty of chocolate during feasting time, along with traditional dishes like fufu and okra soup. In Kenya, many attend a midnight Christmas service, followed by a giant meal including rice, chapati flat bread and grilled meat called nyama choma. In Madagascar, the people enjoy lychees as a special Christmas food during the intense heat.
In Namibia, many of the Christmas traditions stem from Germany, the country that colonized it in the 1800’s. As is common in Africa, floods of workers from the cities return to the villages during the holidays, making weddings common during Christmas. In Nigeria, common Christmas traditions include fireworks, church choirs, and fried chicken.
In South Africa, the blazing heat during Christmas means a traditional braai (barbeque), Malva pudding, mince pies, and watermelon. The day after Christmas, Boxing Day, is a public holiday that originated in the UK. Merry Christmas in Zulu is Ukhisimusi omuhle. In Zimbabwe, following traditional church services, Christmas is a time to wear one’s best clothing and break out the biggest speakers and the loudest music!
Conclusion
Long ago, the angel summarized Christmas in this way: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Lk. 2:1). Christmas is a holiday for all to celebrate, for this Babe was not only a Savior, but the “Savior of the world” (Jn. 4:42). Though our Christmas traditions differ across the world, may the center remain the same—“exceeding joy” over the birth of Jesus Christ the King (Mt. 2:10).