Explore the festive traditions of Christmas and New Year in Zambia, where the celebrations are marked by special foods, church ceremonies, the exchange of gifts, and an array of cultural customs. For those experiencing their first Christmas and New Year's in Zambia, the celebrations are a vibrant mix of local culture and familiar holiday cheer. As expats and digital nomads navigate the festive period in this Southern African nation, they'll find a warm welcome and an array of activities to make their season bright. The holiday season in Zambia offers a unique blend of festive traditions and tropical charm.
Christmas and New Year's Celebrations in Zambia
In Zambia, Christmas is a time of community, family, and spiritual reflection. The majority of Zambians are Christians, and the religious significance of the holiday is at the forefront of the celebrations. Churches are adorned with colorful decorations, and nativity scenes are common. Christmas carols and hymns fill the air, with live performances often taking place in churches and community centers. New Year's celebrations, on the other hand, are more secular and are marked by lively parties, fireworks, and social gatherings. It's a time when people express hope for the future and make resolutions for the coming year.
Christmas in Zambia is not celebrated like it is done in the rest of the western world. The most important day is December 24, Christmas Eve. This Christian festivity commemorates the birth of Jesus, and is part of a 22-28 day season in the Christian calendar known as Advent. The following day, 25th December, is a public holiday in Zambia, as it is in a majority of countries around the world. Christmas in Zambia occurs in the summer, since the country lies in the Southern Hemisphere.
Traditional Holiday Activities
Leading up to the holidays, Zambians engage in a variety of festive activities. Choirs and live bands perform at various venues, and Christmas markets pop up, offering a range of local crafts, gifts, and decorations. In the cities, shopping malls and public spaces are festooned with lights and Christmas trees, creating a festive atmosphere. On Christmas Eve, many families attend church services known as "Candlelight Services," which often include the reenactment of the nativity scene. These services can be quite profound and are a moving experience for those attending for the first time.
When I was a boy in Hakunkula village, on Christmas Eve, we used to dance out the whole night to the African drum beats and traditional songs.
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The Role of Santa Claus
While Santa Claus, known locally as Father Christmas, is not as central to Zambian Christmas as in some Western countries, the jolly figure is still a part of the festivities, especially in urban areas. Malls and hotels may have a Father Christmas to entertain children, and some families incorporate gift-giving into their holiday traditions.
Few celebrations take place without someone arriving in a Santa Claus costume to say hello, take photos and brighten the day even more.
Gift-Giving and Festive Foods
Gift-giving is practiced, though it may not be as commercialized as in other parts of the world. Presents tend to be more modest and often include practical items, handmade goods, or local crafts. The focus is on the thoughtfulness of the gift rather than its monetary value.
Food plays a central role in Zambian holiday celebrations. Traditional dishes such as nshima (a maize meal staple), fish, and village chicken are often served alongside seasonal vegetables and salads. For dessert, sweet treats like biscuits, cakes, and fresh fruits are enjoyed. On New Year's Eve, a special meal is prepared to usher in the new year, sometimes including a barbecue, known locally as a "braai," which provides a convivial atmosphere for friends and family to gather.
Africa Hope Fund CEO Carol Van Bruggen recalls her first Christmas in Zambia in 2008. “We joined the community for a gathering of song and food (mostly Nshima, the local staple) on Christmas morning on a bridge over the Luangwa river. Everyone brought local baked goods and wore bright Chitenjes, which are wraps made of bright African prints. The songs were upbeat African Christmas songs, and everyone danced.”
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When I asked Pastor David what special thing his church would be doing to celebrate Christmas, he said, “We're going to have a big feast: mangos and clabber milk!” I thought, “Lord, forgive me for complaining that we had no cranberry sauce to go with our turkey and dressing while our brother in Christ was rejoicing over having mangos and clabber milk!”
Very few gifts are given for Christmas in Zambia unless they are made by hand, because not many people have the means to purchase commercial items. “But the true meaning of Christmas is on display,” Carol said.
MY ZAMBIAN CHRISTMAS VLOG - 2017
Christmas Day and Church Services
Christmas Day is typically spent with family and close friends. Many people attend church services in the morning, which are joyous occasions featuring vibrant music and dancing. After church, the rest of the day is dedicated to feasting and spending time together. In rural areas, the entire village may come together to share a communal meal.
Zambia is a mainly Christian country, and most of the locals dress up in their Sunday best and go to church on Christmas day. During church service, songs are sung, nativity scenes are acted out and in some cases dances are performed. Children are encouraged to bring a present to church to distribute to less fortunate children living in highly impoverished locations or those in hospitals.
Christmas is also an occasion for family gatherings, exchanging gifts and feasts. Many who live in the cities return to their ancestral homelands to celebrate, and may stay there for weeks. Family or village feasts are a huge part of the celebration on the actual Christmas day on 25 December. Family members from towns would travel to the village for the festive holidays. Beef, or goat meat, is a very common food eaten at this time.
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Destinations for Holiday Festivities
Certain towns and neighborhoods are particularly known for their Christmas spirit. The capital city, Lusaka, and the tourist hub, Livingstone, near Victoria Falls, are especially festive. In these areas, expats and tourists will find a plethora of decorations, events, and a generally heightened holiday atmosphere. The Manda Hill and Arcades shopping centers in Lusaka are hotspots for holiday shopping and festivities, with decorations that light up the city.
Animals roam around in the background enjoying the warm season, and the sightings of elephants, giraffes, hippos and birds brighten everyone’s holiday spirit even more. Below us on the river banks were elephants, hippos and crocodiles lazing in the sun.
A Missionary's Perspective
Christmas in Zambia had its own unique characteristics. Since Zambia is in the Southern Hemisphere of Africa, December is summertime there. There is no snow, no icicles or cold nights.
We had our time of exchanging gifts with family and sharing in festive meals with other missionary families each year. We hung stockings on the mantle and sang Christmas carols in our home. We had special programs in the school, in our churches and community. Some of our churches sang traditional hymns of Jesus' birth which had been translated into their language. However, in general, they had no traditions similar to ours which included the singing of secular carols.
Buying Christmas gifts was a major challenge, as very few stores offered toys or other items for children. We usually bought such gifts far in advance when in the States. We are so thankful that our children were understanding and never complained about the gifts they received or did not receive.
We American missionaries sought to get together each Christmas and provide for our families a typical Christmas celebration as much as possible with food, caroling, games, fun, and fellowship. We usually attended special music performances in the cities.
We were impressed with the practice of Zambian churches which had a worship service on Christmas morning. Sometimes they would celebrate the entire night on Christmas eve with several choirs and the congregation singing, pastors and missionaries preaching, showing Christian films, feasting on their favorite foods, then closing with a service on Christmas morning. This was the highlight of their celebration.
However, in the cities, many non-church folks had learned from foreigners to drink and party in the bars. This was sad as it contrasted so very much with the way Christians celebrated Christmas.
After our four children were grown and were back in America, we found ourselves missing them very much, especially during special times like Christmas. One year we received a letter from our daughter, Valerie, who informed us that she and Bruce did not know where they would spend Christmas since the two married brothers, Gary and Randy, would be with their in-laws for Christmas. We deliberated for about five seconds, then we agreed that we would take our Christmas vacation in America so our two single children who were college students would have a place to spend Christmas with family.
As the holiday season unfolds in Zambia, expats and digital nomads will discover a warm and inviting atmosphere. The blend of traditional customs, communal celebrations, and the spirit of togetherness make for a memorable experience. Whether attending a church service, sharing a meal with new friends, or simply soaking in the local culture, the holidays in Zambia are an opportunity to connect with the heart of this vibrant country.
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