Christmas in South Africa

While we associate the Christmas season with cold temperatures, warm drinks and - if things go well - even snow, temperatures of over 30 degrees Celsius prevail in the home of the Sonnenglas lanterns at the lower tip of the southern hemisphere.

December 25th

In contrast to our tradition of giving presents on Christmas Eve, children in South Africa find their presents under the Christmas tree on December 25. Despite tropical temperatures, the Christmas tree is also an integral part of the Christmas tradition in South Africa. People spend the day at the beach or in the parks. In the evening, people sit together under the Christmas tree. It is lavishly decorated and Christmas socks often hang from the fireplaces, just like in American films. Afterwards, people sing together and church families attend Christmas mass at a later hour.

For example, the Xhosa - one of the largest population groups in South Africa - celebrate Christmas in a completely different way. Many Xhosa travel for hours in minibuses to their homes in the Eastern Cape to visit their families. Christmas trees, Ganz & Co. do not exist here. But of course there is also a lot of eating, dancing and visits to the village medicine man. A very typical dish for the festive season is Umngqusho, a dish made from brown beans, white corn, spinach and grilled chicken.

What do South Africans eat for Christmas?

As Christmas is celebrated under the blazing heat of the South African sun, many families meet up on the beach or in the parks during the day with a full picnic basket. The South African BBQ, known locally as a "braai", is also typical. A real Christmas feast is then served in the evening.

Meat dishes are an integral part of South African cuisine. For example, turkey, duck or suckling pig is served on Christmas Day. These are served with rice, raisins and vegetables. Families who are not doing so well financially often save up for a long time to be able to afford meat on the festive days and prefer to go without it on other days.

The dessert is usually a sweet cake or pudding. If you're looking for something typically South African for your Christmas dessert, try our Mousse auChocolat with Baobab.

Typical German Christmas market in South Africa

The tradition of the German Christmas market is known worldwide. No wonder there are some resourceful Germans (or even non-Germans) who take this tradition to other countries. In South Africa, too, there are several Christmas markets with stalls selling mulled wine, stollen and typical South African dishes such as South African curry.

You can find a list of theChristmas markets in Cape Townand the surrounding area. In Durban there is the I HEART MARKET and in Johannesburg, where our solar glass is also manufactured, you can meet at theParkview Christmas Market.

How do you say "Merry Christmas" in South Africa?

Are you wondering how to wish the people of South Africa a Merry Christmas? There are eleven official languages in South Africa, including English. So the easiest way to wish the people of South Africa a Merry Christmas is to say "Merry Christmas". In Afrikaans, which is spoken in south-western South Africa, you say "Geseënde Kersfees", in north-eastern South Africa, where Zulu is spoken, you say "Sinifisela Ukhisimusi Omuhle".

Autorin: Julia Hupel

<div class="copyrights">photo in header © Thomas Kelley </div>