Introduction

It’s almost that time again — time for snowy, chilly days and tinsel-twinkling nights.

Families are beginning to prepare their Christmas menus and decide what to decorate their pretty Christmas tables with this year.

While you might be layering on the knitwear and dusting off your sled, there’s another way of going about Christmas festivities down in South Africa, and it’s happening right now.

Let’s explore a little more about South Africa at Christmas. What are their traditions on Christmas morning and styles of celebrating over the festive season?

Do People in South Africa Celebrate Christmas?

South Africa is known as a melting pot of cultures. There are around 48 million Christians in this beautiful country, roughly 86% of the population.

In light of this, Christmas is big in South Africa and celebrated in most homes.

Even amongst other religions, Christmas is a really popular holiday in December within the South African rainbow nation and is a holiday that is well-celebrated overall.

Can you believe that there are 11 official languages in this country? – somehow, everyone manages to communicate and understand one another.

Nothing speaks more to the heart of all South Africans than the joy of a celebration like the Christmas festive season.

When is Christmas Celebrated in South Africa?

Born out of its colonial ties to the English and Dutch, South Africa celebrates Christmas on the 25th of December.

You can imagine the speed at which Santa has to maneuver his sleigh from the Northern Hemisphere all the way down to the southern tip of Africa on Christmas Eve.

It’s a wonder he doesn’t land up with whiplash!

One of the signs that Christmas celebrations are on their way is the annual Festival of Lights, which celebrates the official turning on of the Festival Lights in Adderley Street, Cape Town. The city’s annual festive lights “switch on event” draws thousands of locals who sing and dance to a lineup of local musicians. This event happens around the end of November and signifies that Christmas is nearby.

Imagine thousands of people dancing in the streets of beautiful Cape Town city, under twinkling lights, fake snow and Christmas decorations in the shape of dolphins, elephants, and lions. That’s what this festival is all about.

Now, remember the picture we painted earlier of wintery clothes and chilly days and nights?

I want you to go back to that thought in your mind and then find the polar opposite idea.

That’s what South Africa Christmas is like. It’s the total opposite of chilly and cozy.

No matter where you are in South Africa, whether in lush and tropical Zululand or the scrubby, mystical landscape of the Karoo, you are boiling hot on Christmas day. Think swimming pools, iced eggnog, barbecues (South African’s called this a “braai”), and air conditioning.

Christmas Meals in South Africa

For those South Africans who celebrate Christmas, they will often have a lovely dinner where the traditional turkey, gammon, green beans, and other classic sides are served.

The meal often follows a traditional English Christmas meal, roast turkey, roast beef, and all the sides, depending on where you are in the country.

Other families will have a large barbecue to get into the festive spirit, with meat and sides of potato, green salads, and chutneys.

Certain homes will make a roast lamb and enjoy it with potato bake and salads. It really depends on the origin or core culture of the family.

Mince pies and Christmas puddings can be found in almost every store in the lead-up to Christmas.

They are often loaded with a side of vanilla ice cream to cool the body down after a large hot meal.

Children can be spotted running around with cones and with ice cream dripping from their chins around December. It’s all systems go to have fun and keep cool.

In terms of whether Christmas Eve celebrations or Christmas dinner or day is the more significant in terms of family time and celebrations, it’s sort of a split.

About half of South African families have their main meal and gathering on Christmas Eve, while the other half have it on Christmas Day. Some have both.

Other Christmas Activities in South African

Families will often attend either midnight Mass or a Christmas morning church service on the 25th of December. After that, it’s straight into the kitchen to get food prepared.

Families located along the coast can often be found picnicking and barbecuing near the seaside on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The same can be said for New Year’s Eve too!

While a lot of homes do have a Christmas tree, it’s rarely a fresh one. Fresh Christmas trees wilt very quickly in South African homes unless the home is air-conditioned, which is very rare in most homes in South Africa.

As a country that has regular power cuts, air conditioning is not exactly practical.

For coastal dwellers, the beach plays a big part in their activities at Christmas time. It’s basically a giant playground to celebrate on and one of the few free South African Christmas traditions.