Christmas in South Africa

By J. Ebrahim

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. From the Christmas carols to gingerbread houses. Be it in winter or summer, families around the world write up their Christmas wish lists and get together around the lit pine tree. Christmas joy is spread far and wide, but how is it celebrated?


The South African rainbow nation is known to be a melting pot of diverse ethnicities and cultures. Being part of the Commonwealth, Christmas traditions in South Africa are similar to the UK; hence the festive cards depicting Red Robins, Holly and snowmen. We have a Christmas Day Lunch with familiar dishes such as roasted vegetables, baked potatoes, yellow rice with raisins, turkey and malva pudding. The malls are all decorated with mistletoes and bells and the air is filled with Boney M’s “Mary’s Boy Child” and “Little Drummer boy”.


Houses, major streets and tourist attractions such as the Table Mountain are light up. South Africans add a twist to the Christmas decorations by making tree decorations with Ndebele beads, making it all the more unique.


Geseënde Kersfees
(Merry Christmas)