Traditions and Info on Christmas in different African countries:
Christmas in Uganda
Mukulike Okutuuka ku Mazaalibwa
Mukulike Okutuuka ku Mazaalibwais the greeting that all Ugandans - men, women, and children greet each other with as they congratulate one another for yet another Christmas added to their age.
The Christmas season is the most important holiday of the year in Uganda and is very festive. Christmas is ushered in as early as the first week of December by a business boom caused by the purchase of new clothes, gifts, and especially Christmas cards, which are popular among urban dwellers.
City authorities organize Christmas caroling and many Christian choirs participate with the lighting of giant Christmas trees the cities. Families and friends dance until the wee hours of the morning.
Christmas Eve night is the time when the celebrations really start with Church services that have drumming and dancing. Children often put on a Nativity Play or other drama. Then choirs come out to sing and people come out in front of the priests to dance. Songs are mostly sang in the languages that the people understand best. This makes them feels that God speaks their language. Sometimes these services and dancing go on all night long!
Other people celebrate Christmas Eve with fireworks and parties.
Christmas in Ghana
Afishapa (Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in Akan)
Afishapa is used often in greeting one another.
Ghanaians celebrate Christmas from the 20th of December to first week in January with lots of different activities. Many people travel to visit their relatives and friends in other parts of the country. Over 66 languages are spoken in Ghana and all these language groups have their own traditions and customs!
Christmas Eve night is the time when the celebrations really start with Church services that have drumming and dancing. Children often put on a Nativity Play or other drama. Then choirs come out to sing and people come out in front of the priests to dance. Songs are mostly sang in the languages that the people understand best. This makes them feels that God speaks their language. Sometimes these services and dancing go on all night long!
Other people celebrate Christmas Eve with fireworks and parties
On Christmas day the Churches are very full. People come out dressed in their colorful traditional clothes. After the Church service on Christmas morning, people quickly go back to their houses to start giving and receiving gifts.
During the Christmas period children's parties, employees' end of year parties etc. are mostly celebrated in the hotels, at the beaches, school parks and community centers with good wishes for all people on earth.
Some Ghanains also go to Church on the 31st December to thank God for sending Jesus.
Unlike most countries, Ghana celebrates Christmas by having people from various localities, mainly young boys, dress in fancy and colorful costumes and dance on the main streets of towns and cities to the tune of brass band music. Large crowds fill the streets to observe the celebration.
This art of masquerading was imported from Brazil and has been associated with the Fante communities in Ghana. It is found mainly in Central Ghana and parts of the western regions of the country. Sometimes the masqueraders even enter people's homes. In the joyous spirit of Christmas, families join in and also dance to the music. Gifts of money, food, and drinks are given to the masqueraders.
Christmas in Zambia
Nwa fikeniko ku nwa ka upia! (We have made it to the new year.)
A chicken dinner is the most special part of a Zambian Christmas. Chickens are only eaten at extremely special occasions: when a visitor comes or there is a death in the family. But at Christmastime, the market bustles as people buy chickens, and villagers are happy with increased profits from their sales. Families try their best to include protein in their Christmas meals, so some purchase beef instead, or beans if meat is not affordable. Families with more money may even buy rice and potatoes to eat in place of the traditional nshima.
Because Zambia is a Christian nation, many churches in Zambia organize nativity plays for the children to enjoy. After going to church and watching the plays, families return home and continue celebrating with a special meal of chicken and nshima.
One or two days before Christmas, Zambians like to go carol singing round the local streets for charity.
On Christmas day, children are encouraged to bring a present to church for children who are in hospital or might not get a present because they are less fortunate. After church, on Christmas day, it is a custom that all the children go to one house and all the adults go to another house to have a party and to eat!!
Christmas in Kenya
Sikukuu njema ya Krismasi ("Merry Christmas" in Swahili)
or
Na azaliwe ndani yako ("May the Lord be born within you this Christmas")
In the same way that the shepherds decided to go to Bethlehem after receiving the message the birth of Jesus from the angels, Kenyans who live in urban centers travel to rural areas to join their relatives for Christmas. Most travel in Kenya is done by bus, so the bus station becomes quite hectic during the Christmas season.
Once they are home there is much celebrating which includes lots of eating and drinking. Chickens, sheep, goats and cows are slaughtered by the hundreds to prepare for the celebration.
In the coastal province, the typical Christmas dish is Pilau. This is a dish made of rice, meat (usually beef) and many different spices. It is a staple food there. The food is served on one big tray and everyone eats from the tray using their fingers as utensils. No spoons, no forks, no knives!
As in many parts of the world, people gather together in churches to pray. Some even attend all night prayer and celebration services.
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Sources and more Links:
http://www.christmasjoy.net/∞
http://www.cvc.org/christmas/acc/corey/ghana/∞
http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures∞
http://christmascarnivals.com/aroundtheworld/∞ (weird website)
http://www.worldvision.org/get_involved.nsf/child/metro_chicago_home_christmas∞
http://northpole.net/world.htm∞
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