Christmas : Africa vs the NL
September 17, 2005 at 9:49 AM
by Ashleigh
My mom and I used to decorate one wall of our living room with all the Christmas cards we received. We would put up a Christmas tree as well, usually cut from the plantation of firs and pines that my dad had growing for wood purposes. We kids opened our gifts first thing in the morning while enjoying tea and mince pies. Breakfast was usually skipped in favour of mince pies!
Our meal would be either a cold buffet with lots of salads, a baked ham, cold chicken and roast beef, and then for dessert trifle, ice cream, fruit salad etc. At about 4 pm we'd have very rich Christmas cake (made by my gran), shortbread, mince pies and other cakes and such with tea. Then by about 7 pm everyone would go home, unless they were staying over, in which case the eating would just begin the next day!
It was usually around 30C heat so we could swim, do stuff outside etc.
Sometimes my parents changed the lunch format and we barbequed instead, but my mom preferred the cold meal.
One of the places where our Christmas diverged a bit from the norm was that the farm staff used to come and entertain the household with a display of tribal dancing - quite remarkable! That was their Christmas gift to us.
After that my parents would give each of the staff families their Christmas bonus - money, plus something called a 'Christmas box' which was made up by a wholesaler and included all kinds of things - maize meal, foodstuffs, soaps, etc.
If I were there now I would feel embarrassed at the excesses of this sort of Christmas in the middle of Africa, but as a child I had no idea really, and it still holds poignant memories for me.
Things I like about the Christmas season in NL:
- Sinterklaasavond
- The lights ( its so pretty for the whole of December)
- The start of the season with St Maarten and all the kids with their lampionnen etc.
- Oliebollen at New Years
- Kerstbrood
- The Kerstdiner at the kids school - its so cute to see them all dressed up and a wonderful memory for them
- The New Years fireworks
- That school only comes out on Christmas Eve - what if you wanted to travel to distant family!?
- Celebrating two sets of present giving - one for Sinterklaas for the children, and then again for Christmas Day to keep our own heritage too.
- Missing my family and friends
- That the food is so completely different to my traditional Christmas food.
Nothing special or 'gezellig' at all and for 70 euros pp! This year I will cook at home or we will take off for somewhere else!
Comments
DATE: 10/22/2005 09:51:41 PM
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Christmas is such a fun time of year. While it’s quite expensive sending out Christmas cards, giving gifts and throwing parties, I just love it! It’s also a time for expressing appreciation to people. Although we have never met and never will, I just wanted to extend to you my best for the holidays. I have enjoyed reading your posts. I hope you have a great Christmas.
November 7, 2005 3:10 PM