Christmas in Kenya

In Kenya, Christmas is a time when families try to be with one another. Many people travel from cities, back to the villages where the main part of their family might live. (Although more extended families now live in cities so they don't have to travel!) This is often the only time large families will see each other all year, so it is very important.

People try to be home for Christmas Eve, so they can help with the Christmas preparations. Houses and churches are often decorated with colorful balloons, ribbons, paper decorations, flowers and green leaves. For a Christmas Tree, some people will have a cyprus tree.

In cities and large towns, stores can have fake snow outside them! And there might be a Santa in the stores as well.

In Kenya, Santa doesn't arrive with his reindeer but might well come by Land Rover, camel or even a bike!

Many people, especially Christians, will go to a midnight church service to celebrate Christmas. The service will have Christmas hymns, carols, songs, nativity plays (showing the Christmas Story), poems and dances.

After the service, people go home and the party really starts - you might well not sleep that night! In cities, going carol singing is also becoming more popular.

Some people will also go to church on Christmas morning (if they haven't fallen asleep from partying all night!)

Popular Christmas foods include a barbecue which can be a goat, sheep, beef or chicken. This is eaten with rice and chapati flatbread. The big Christmas meal is called 'nyama choma'. People often make their own beer to drink and different tribes also have special dishes they make. If you live in a city you might have a western-style Christmas cake, but these are not very common in rural areas.

Only small gifts are normally exchanged and sometimes food and gifts are provided by missionary organizations.

The day after Christmas, Boxing Day, is also a public holiday in Kenya. It's another day of celebrating, seeing more friends and family (or sleeping!)

In Swahili/Kiswahili (a language spoken in Kenya) Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Heri ya Krismasi' and the response is 'Wewe pia' (you also). In the Maasai language (also called Maa or Kimaasai) it's 'nchipai e Kirismas'. Happy/Merry Christmas in lots more languages.

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