How do tanzania celebrate christmas

No matter the size of the Christian population, almost every country in Africa has its own amazing way to celebrate the spiritual side of Christmas. A post shared by Kaluhi kaluhiskitchen. Almost everyone in the world agrees that Christmas is all about the birth of Jesus… and enjoying a feast.

South Africans agree, with their famous outdoor braais , or special barbecues at Christmas time. In Nigeria, flavoured rice, tomato stew and fried chicken or goat are the stars of the festivities, while in Ghana, the locals dish up their famous Jollof rice, fufu and okra soup. Wherever you go and whatever you eat, the Christmas meal in Africa is all about inviting all your friends and family to share in the good times — and everyone is welcome.

In Ghana, the Yuletide festivities get started as soon as December arrives, with shops, streets and homes decorated in twinkling lights and ornaments. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. English Deutsch. Christmas Celebrations in Tanzania. Christmas Celebrations in Tanzania 26 Nov hi. Marketing Manager. Family get-togethers Like many families the world over, Tanzanian families get together for Christmas.

Slaughtering veggies, look away now Being a celebration, families will often buy a cow or goat in January just to feed it up in time for Christmas. And lots of it. Church on Christmas Day Going to church on Christmas Day is very common and many people leave home early in the morning, dressed up in new clothes, to celebrate in the community. Christmas songs Christmas means a whole lot of singing, too! One of the most popular song lyrics is: Noelia Noelia, utukufu kwa yesu… kriss masinje kwa ulimwengu mzima.

Which means: Noel, noel, praise be to Jesus…. Christmas dinner What is Christmas without Christmas dinner? Crush the garlic and cardamom together using a mortar and pestle and mix with 2 tbsp water. Cover and cook over a medium heat for about 10 minutes until the mixture is golden brown.

One can cross paths with wildlife while climbing up to the Mountain Peaks. Tanzania is known for wildlife safaris across its 14 different National Parks. Though the wildebeest migration in Serengeti will be missed in December, one can still spot several animals and birds including the big cats, giraffes and wild dogs.

Many National Parks offer walking tours and boat safaris so one has to make sure to pick the right activity for the maximum exploration of the parks. The only downside of visiting the national parks during Christmas is that the prices for the safari and the lodges are sky high as it is the peak season. Thus, it is advisable to book the activity in advance. The wildebeest calving season starts in the month of January and if one plans to spend the New Year as well in Tanzania then it is a must-do activity.

Dar es Salaam is the former capital of Tanzania and is economically most important to the Country. It scores high in the population sector and is one of the upbeat cities of Tanzania. Dar es Salaam has revolutionized the retail sector while still promoting the products of the African diaspora. It is the place to be in during the Christmas celebrations in Tanzania. Joseph Cathedral. This Roman Catholic Church in Dar es Salaam is famous for its architecture and the stained window glass behind the altar.

Built in a Gothic style, the Cathedral is home for the Archbishop. Every Christmas Eve, a midnight mass is conducted here. Apart from the religious activities, one can visit the National Museum that displays fossils and statues found in the region and learn about the Tanzanian Culture.

Dar es Salaam has some good restaurants and nightlife that one can retire to. It was a major hub for trade during the Arab and British rule. Zanzibar is still famous for its white powdery beaches and turquoise waters. Christmas celebrations in Tanzania can be on the beach with food, music, and dance if one is in Zanzibar. Because the days are warm and sunny most of the time, December is a great time to indulge in water sports. One can go scuba diving or snorkeling or just relax on the beach.

Beach soccer, rugby, and volleyball are popular sports around here. Sometime during the early December, Zanzibar even organizes a beach festival. There is a lot to do on the mainland as well. You will hear strangers saying Merry Christmas to each other in the Malagasy language. You can also see many decorations on indigenous poinsettia trees. The meals consist of chicken or pork with yellow rice. Cakes or desserts are made of lychees that commonly grow in Madagascar.

Christmas is one of the most festive times in Nigeria, and it is time people spend with their families to show appreciation to their loved ones. One of the most exciting advantages of living in Nigeria is that you will get to observe both Christian and Muslim holidays since those are the two primary religions in the country.

Most Christian households go to church service is held on Christmas morning to celebrate the birth of Christ. After visiting the church, the celebration starts with a traditional Christmas dinner party.

Of course, there are several variations to celebrating an African Christmas, depending on if you are single, have a family, or the elderly.

Typically, smaller families can celebrate Christmas day with other families. They usually have grandparents from the countryside to be part of this special day. In a larger family, one family member hosts the celebration, and kids, grandkids, parents, grandparents, friends and families, and people in the community are invited to come to have fun.

The most commonly prepared main dish consists of turkey, goat, sheep, or chicken, and side dishes range from fried rice to jollof rice, skewed beef suya , and vegetable salads. Also, depending on what tribe a family is from, they will make meals from their trip.

You can see a list of the most popular Nigerian food during the festive season. Community service is also a considerable part of an African Christmas in Nigeria. Church congregations play a crucial role by organizing events to visit the orphanages, adult family, and homeless homes, to visit the families and children.

The church members come with gifts, food, and drink, and the choirs will perform Christmas songs in many languages like Yoruba, Fulani, and Igbo. Boxing Day is the day after Christmas when the wise men went to visit Jesus.

In traditional churches in Nigeria, the church go on a short trip as a way to replicate the visit of the wise men. When they get to the location, usually a park with a lot of open space, they start the love feast. The love feast is a ceremony where people come as they are to eat, drink, and be merry. A vital component of the love feast is a gift exchange. No matter how inexpensive a gift item is, everyone has to participate. You exchange your wrapped gift with your church family and friends and establish new friendships during the process.

Other activities during love feast include singing, dancing, Bible recitation. The proper name for Christmas in Uganda is Sekukkulu.