I love Christmas.
In the Northern Hemisphere, where I spent the first 29 years of my life, it is Winter.
Christmas here falls in our Summer, just after our Summer Solstice, so Christmas day is usually a long, sunny ( if we are lucky ) one, celebrated outdoors with the usual Braai, beer and family fun.
Father will be at the braai – barbeque – cooking the meat and chatting with the other men, whilst the women will be in the kitchen preparing the rolls, salads and trimmings.
Children will be playing around, and usually the family with the swimming pool will be the hosts. This is the same in all cultures in South Africa.
Here is a bit of nostalgia …
For my late husband John and I, this was our busiest time of the year, taking our Puppet Pantomimes round the schools and other venues.
For our show “Suzy visits the North Pole”, I wrote 2 songs about our hot Christmas.
Christmas in Africa.
Christmas in Africa is blazing hot
Blue skies and sunshine is what we got
Braais and salads and cold beer
Parties are outdoors at this time of year.
Christmas at the North Pole is very stark
Freezing cold and always dark
Ten weeks of midnight, the people pout
We’ll stay inside til the sun comes out
Christmas is here, let the world rejoice
North and South join in one voice
Let’s give thanks for the chance to show
How to give is all we need to know
In KZN it never snows.
In KZN it never snows
We don’t get frozen hands or toes
No log fires burn, no sleigh bells ring
Hey, moenie worry nie let’s all sing
We can have a Sunny Christmas
With carols and a Christmas tree
As long as the Christmas feeling’s there
KZN’s the place to be
In KZN on Christmas day
It’s hot and sticky while we play
With Mistletoe and hot mince pies
Hey, moenie worry nie, share our braai
We can have a Sunny Christmas
With carols and a Christmas tree
As long as the Christmas feeling’s there
KZN’s the place to be.
We were asked to do a Puppet Pantomime reflecting our diverse cultures, so “Globe Trotting Suzy” toured for many years.
For those who wanted something more traditional, our show “The Life of Jesus” was very popular in the schools on the 6 week run up to the end of term.
“Suffer little children to come unto me.”
That’s what Jesus said in Galilee.
And grown ups must be like children, too.
Gentle, loving, kind and good.
Then, in the last two weeks, at shopping Malls, and various venues, we would either do The Supa Dupa Christmas Show or an hour of Christmas Carols and songs.
Many times we would be invited to Entertain for Childrens’ Christmas Parties. John was asked to play Santa, and, of course I got to dress up as the Christmas Fairy !!
It was a great way to earn a living and bring joy to all those who saw us.
I have tried to find some equivalent of Solstice / Summer celebrations in the African Continental cultures, but have had no luck.
There is a very strong Christian Faith amongst Africans here, so Christmas is celebrated much the same as in Europe, with Christmas Carols translated into all 11 of our official languages.
Silent Night with a verse in English, German and Zulu.
One of my favourite carols is still The Sussex Carol !!
In our house, my son and I will have a gentle day, maybe a couple of neighbours will share lunch with us.
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.
