Kenya
In Kenya, we interviewed the children at Mary Hill Nursery School. Christmas there is a joyous celebration characterized by community, games and special meals. The children tell us the following about their traditions:
Decorations and clothes: Many children look forward to decorating their houses with balloons and wearing new clothes and shoes.
Special dishes: Rice and beans, meat or ugali with small fish (omena) are among the typical Christmas dishes. For many families, it is a day on which meals are prepared that they cannot afford every day.
Games and community: Whether playing on a bouncy castle, with balloons or in large groups – Christmas brings children together.
Church and traditions: A highlight for many is a visit to church, where the birth of Jesus is often portrayed in the form of plays.
India
In India, a country of diversity, Christmas is celebrated especially in the Christian communities. Brother Markus emphasizes that even people who do not celebrate Christmas in India often take part in the festivities and respect and observe the customs of others. Christmas is an official holiday in India.
Decorations: Houses are decorated with Christmas trees, stars, lights and nativity scenes. The branches of the tree symbolize Jesus’ crown of thorns and eternal life.
Religious customs: Attending midnight mass is a central part of the celebrations. Churches are decorated with flowers and candles.
Cuisine: Plum cake (fruit cake), chapati, meat dishes and desserts such as gulab jamun or jalebi are on the menu.
Community: The celebrations are characterized by gatherings with family and friends, eating together and exchanging gifts.
Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, Christmas is celebrated as Genna, one of the most important Christian festivals in the country. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church, one of the oldest Christian churches in the world, celebrates Christmas from January 6 to 7.
Religious customs: The celebrations begin with a festive Orthodox service on the evening of January 6. There is singing, communal prayers and liturgies. The faithful wrap themselves in white clothing and cloths, as white stands for light, brightness and joy.
Traditions at home: Many families prepare intensively for Genna. Christmas shopping, decorating a Christmas tree and sharing a festive meal with the extended family play a central role. Particularly noteworthy is the traditional coffee ceremony, which is a must in every household.
Cuisine: A traditional dish is doro wot, a spicy chicken stew served on injera, a flatbread made from teff.
Community: Families and friends gather to pray, eat and celebrate the birth of Christ.
With a hearty “Melkam Genna” – which means “Merry Christmas” – the Ethiopian family wishes all friends happiness and joy.
Bangladesh
The majority of the population in Bangladesh are Muslims and therefore do not celebrate Christmas. This was also reported by the children from our project schools. We therefore asked them what their most important religious festivals are and how they celebrate them.
Eid ul-Fitr, the festival of breaking the fast: In our country, this festival is also known as Eid and was described by the children as the most similar festival to our Christmas. This is mainly due to the fact that children receive small gifts called “Eidi” for Eid. The festival marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan and people wish each other “Eid Mubarak”, a happy breaking of the fast.
Religious customs: The day begins with a special prayer in the mosques, followed by charitable offerings (Zakat al-Fitr) to people in need.
Culinary delights: Festive dishes play a central role. These include: Shemai (dish of milk and roasted noodles), Biriyani (spiced rice with meat or chicken) and Pitha (traditional rice pastries).
Community: Families and friends come together to eat, exchange gifts and celebrate the end of fasting. Children often receive new clothes and small gifts, which makes the day extra special.
