What is Christmas like in South Africa?

Answer 1

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Poor Jennifer, her christmas really sucks!

I will speak for my friends and family and the happenings around me. Christmas is just as commercial as anywhere else. Malls go crazy with "sales" and decor and lights etc. The buzz, the choas, the anticipation, the decor...it's CHRISTMAS!

Personally, my family is very religious so they haven't really forgotten what Christmas is all about - which is lovely.

But we do, do all the big christmas lunches and opening presents under the christmas tree and family gatherings etc..apart from the ritual church going.

My parent's church still goes carolling..around 50 people walking the streets and singing..it's BIG and absolutely joyous. A decorated truck to support tired carollers and santa.lol..although everyone is so full of the christmas spirit..it fills them with energy. We wait for it every year. The money raised from the carolling is well-spent. Food hampers for the needy and things that need to be done that year for the church or community.

Our climate does not allow for the wonderful snowfall and Nordic hot wines, but people have a great time anyway.

Every year, my sister and I make a fabulous triffle..EVERYONE we know(within 20km radius.lol) would come for a serving. We have the traditional seafood platters, breyani (duh! we Indian), roasts, puddings, and what not! The whole family is together and we just enjoy each other's company.

Regardless of which day Christ is born..the very fact that we HAVE a day acknowledging and celebrating his birth counts for something. I don't think God will mind if we celebrating his birth on the wrong day :-) He has other concerns!

Answer 2

Most people go to church for the Christmas sermon on Christmas day, and then spend the day with family and/or friends, exchange gifts, i love decorating the tree and the Christmas music ... i don't think it is different from many other countries where people believe in God and celebrate the birth of Jesus

Answer 3

i can say it very different compared to any where else im origianly south african and go back to visit at least once a year
but anyway basically there's no christmas adverts on t.v is really hot and people don't generary say merry christmas i sometimes foreget its chrismas when im there
christmas is not a big deal there
people just normally spend time with their family and cook, simple stuff really

Answer 4

I was in Cape Towon for Christmas and New Years Eve. It was very "Western"

Answer 5

Well, firstly, Im from Johannesburg and I can only speak for myself....

for me, things in Johannesburg are always buzzing...its a fast paced city. each day we are concerned with work and opportunity. Time flies! Every year I am reminded that it is the festive season when I enter the mall and see christmas decor.

We never have a white christmas in the states as it is summer. workers usually take leave and companies usually close for the week after christmas until new years.

most christians go to church before christmas, and church again in the morning. most people celebrating the festive season do the whole christmas tree and lighting thing and place gifts underneath the tree. most christmas days are family oriented where the family cooks and/or barbeque's on the day.

I live in a coloured community and i can say that the whole festive season is a time to take of work and party as much as possible. people in my community drink alot.

boxing day...(the public holiday after christmas) is generally a dead day! nothing happens...just sitting at home and either relaxing or re cooperating from the hectic-ness of the night that just passed.

we dont necessarily do the christmas carols thing...however, the malls seem to do it for us!

Source(s):

like i said, i am speaking for myself....each south african culture has there own way of celebrating christmas and the festive season.

Answer 6

Yeah, Cheri and The Hat is right...it's just sad that Christians don't realize that Christmas is actually a pagan festival...not Christian.
Jesus' birth happened somewhere in September, that's about the time that the Jews celebrate His birth.

Answer 7

It is hot, but many people still eat winter food like in Europe, although they have adapted certain recipes like Christmas pudding flavoured ice cream and cold turkey.

Christmas (Xmas) is a time for families to get together if possible and many people open up presents on Xmas day, except for the German community - they open their presents on Xmas Eve.

On Xmas day, families call each other to send greetings. My family get together, have a Xmasy braai (BBQ), swim, drink lots and party.

Answer 8

christmas is normal. not if ur used to snow and things like that. it is western and traditional, the malls are decorated beautifully, the weather can go from hot to cold unexpectedly, u can go to church and we always used to go for lunch in restaurants in the winefarms where u can drink to ur hearts content!

Source(s):

lived in capetown

Answer 9

I was there over the new year holidays bringing in the new year in Cape Town a few years ago, I arrived on the boxing day and to be honest with you it never struck me as being very traditional it just seemed to be like a regular day to me

im expecting some south africans to shoot me down for this and sorry if ive got it wrong but to be honest there isnt much difference between there and the UK the decorations are up, people run around buying presents and such yet its all just done in a much warmer climate, it didnt strike me as being such a special time to South Africans but maybe because I arrived the day after the big day and everyone was carrying on like a normal day though new years was mad people line the streets giving high fives to all the traffic which was funny haha