In most African countries, Christians make up only a small part of the population, so Christmas is usually not celebrated on a grand scale.
Although Christmas has been a tradition in Ethiopia for quite some time, observance in most other countries is limited to ares with established missions. In these areas Christmas is observed simply, in a way that many feel reflects the true meaning of the day. The missions provide homes and schools for the young children and hospitals for the ill; at Christmas time, the efforts of all are concentrated on helping those in need and on the spiritual aspects of the holiday. There are no Santas or trees, and there is very little gift giving, except to the poor. In some places, lucky children receive sugar, grains, or fruit.
In Algiers there are a number of Catholic churches that celebrate midnight Mass. Streets are colorfully decorated.
The Christian church in Ethiopia is the Coptic Church. Believers there still abide by an older calendar, which places Christmas on January 7.
Things stray from the norm a bit in Ghana. There, Christmas evergreens or palm trees are seen, but only in churches, and there is a Father Christmas who comes out of the jungle. Children have school pageants, and there is more gift giving. Early Christmas morning, a group enacts the story of the shepherds and angels heralding Christ's birth, traveling the streets and singing songs.
Festive Fact: Christmas is a low key affair in Africa; it's observance is usually limited to relatively small Christian populations. The emphasis is typically on charitable acts and simple presents.
It's far to say that in most African countries, Christmas could be ignored entirely without changing the cultural landscape much. One exception to this, however, is found in South Africa. Christmas there falls in the midst of summer vacation, so the activities are adapted to the warmer weather. In the European sections of the country, shops are decorated and streets are lit. Father Christmas puts gifts in the children's stockings. After a church service on Christmas day, the Christmas feast is eaten outside.
About the Author...
Born and raised in the state of New York, R.M. Villoria began his writing career as a prolific songwriter. After two back-to-back tours as a Marine in Vietnam, Villoria spent the next few years owning and operating a myriad of businesses and in 1992 returned to writing, this time appeasing his appetite for suspense and horror fiction.
Born and raised in the state of New York, R.M. Villoria began his writing career as a prolific songwriter. After two back-to-back tours as a Marine in Vietnam, Villoria spent the next few years owning and operating a myriad of businesses and in 1992 returned to writing, this time appeasing his appetite for suspense and horror fiction.
Years in the making, his ghostly tales touching on the underpinnings of quantum physics and the paranormal are now ready for the public. As his first published work, Villoria presents readers with Volume One of his series “Tales From the Mind Field.”
Villoria has a son and daughter and lives in Las Vegas with his Wife.
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