A chill is in the air, and lights are going up on houses. That can only mean one thing—it’s the Christmas season! We’re sure your family has lots of fun traditions during the holiday season. But today, we’d like to share some of the unique traditions found across the world in Africa!
How do they celebrate Christmas in Africa? What do the holidays look like with such a diverse landscape? Are the traditions similar to ours? Find out all the answers to these questions and more through our very own African Christmas guide!
Africa is a diverse continent with many different people groups, each with their own traditions. While Okoa is located in East Africa, we want to share some of the Christmas traditions you’ll see all across the continent. You may be shocked at how similar they are to your own!
In many Christian nations in Africa, Christmas and Christmas Eve are days spent in church. Families wake up early in the morning, put on their best clothing, and head to church to celebrate the birth of Christ with fellow believers.
These services are usually filled with songs, performances, communion, and even sometimes Christmas parades! In some countries, the spirit of giving is strong during service, and people will bring gifts to leave on the communion table. Believers from all around gather together on this holy night and day to celebrate the coming of our Lord!
While not all African countries believe in Santa Claus, some do share the tale of Jolly St. Nick with their little ones. But it may not be the story you’re used to. In countries like Kenya, Santa Claus rides around the world on a camel instead of reindeer!
Some countries have different holiday figures altogether. For example, in Liberia, their Christmas figure is Old Man Bayka or Old Man Beggar. Rather than a large, jolly man who brings gifts to children around the world, Old Man Bayka is a fabled monster children must avoid lest he ask them for their gifts, earning his beggar name. In Liberia, people will dress up like Old Man Bayka and use their performance to raise money for their local communities.
If there’s one thing that always brings families and friends together, it’s a shared meal. From puddings to goat stew, there are many items to be enjoyed during an African Christmas. Rather than having a Christmas ham or turkey, many families have fish, curries, and stews for their traditional meal. If you’re looking to spice up your Christmas, try one of these traditional Christmas dishes from all across Africa!
The giving spirit of Christmas is present in African communities. One of the most common gifts on this day is handmade clothes. Young children and adults alike get to appreciate brand-new shirts, skirts, and dresses, knowing it was made with love. Many churches also do their part in blessing their community with small gifts, such as soaps and candles.
In large African cities, Christmas markets are a popular destination for families looking for gifts. From crafts to technology, there’s little you can’t find at one of these vibrant markets!
Ethiopia has a deep Christian history, and this can be felt if you ever get to make the trip there around Christmas time. Unlike many other countries, Ethiopia celebrates Christmas on January 7th, following the traditional Julian calendar. They also don’t call this day Christmas, but rather, it’s referred to as Genna.
Genna is filled with church services, traditional processions, and a feast. The religious leaders of Ethiopia will fast for over 40 days in preparation for this day. Known for its recreation of the Ark of the Covenant and parades, this celebration is quite a sight to see!
Families in African countries like to decorate for Christmas just like we do. However, instead of the American tradition of using pine trees, they’ll decorate the native tree found in their backyard. This includes palm trees, mango and other fruit trees, as well as cypress trees adorned with Christmas ornaments! Bells and candles are popular decorations to use.
Some families may opt to decorate their homes as well, but many stick to their main family room rather than decorating their entire home.
Children and church members share the holiday cheer by caroling around their communities. Some songs you may recognize, but others are entirely unique to an African Christmas!
Many churches choose to celebrate the birth of Christ by putting on a nativity performance or scene for their congregation. This a great way to get the children involved in the holiday, as many nativities cast the church’s children as the main actors!
While many African countries celebrate Christmas, you may not hear the word Christmas if you ever are visiting during the holidays. Many countries have their own name for the holiday. We already mentioned that Ethiopia calls it Genna, but here are a few other names you may hear:
While many people and Christians are free to celebrate Christmas in Africa, there are those who cannot. The north of Africa is predominantly Muslim, and many Christians face persecution for practicing their faith and holidays. While we may not know the specific traditions in these countries, we can take the time to pray for our fellow believers on the front lines of religious persecution and ask God to give them peace this holiday season.
At our Child Rescue Center in Uganda, our workers and children love the Christmas season! Some of our team at the center told us Christmas in Uganda is always better in the villages. People from all over the country return to their home villages to share in family and good food.
At the Center, we make sure it’s a special day for the resident children as well! We start the day with church to help the children understand the true meaning of Christmas. We also provide a wonderful feast of food and gifts! We also give gifts to local community members, such as beds, goats, and even wheelchairs!
If you want to join in on the giving spirit this Christmas season, you can help African families and children celebrate the holiday through our gift catalog! From buying believers Bibles to funding a church building for members to celebrate the holiday under, your donation through our gift catalog will help fund very specific goals. Celebrate with African believers this Christmas season, and give a gift through Okoa Refuge!
