Alexis Rios Piña

                                                               The Christmas meal consists of turkey, duck, roast beef or suckling pig with yellow rice, raisins and vegetables, followed by Christmas pudding or a traditional South African dessert called mallow pudding (sometimes also called Lekker's pudding). Many South Africans eat fried emperor moth caterpillars as part of their Christmas feast. A great source of protein, insects are harvested at Christmas and preserved for consumption during the winter. But at Christmas they are fresh and fried as part of their Christmas celebrations.   By: Alexis Rios Piña                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

  We are going to expand our Christmas musical culture a little towards less usual lands: we are going to Africa, although it is true that the popularization of the following Christmas songs is mainly due to the African-American community.   1.- BETELEHEMU The first of these is  Betelehemu , composed by the musician Nigerian  Babatunde Olatunji  and popularized in churches African Americans in the mid-twentieth century. The title means literally "Bethlehem" and is, of course, a tribute to the city where Jesus was born.   2 .- SIYAHAMBA Siyahamba is  originally from South Africa and its title means "We walk" in Zulu (for the phrase " we walk in the light of God " that is repeated several times).   3 .–  BANUWA, SING NOEL! (AFRICAN NOEL) This song is quite peculiar because the melody has its origin in Liberia (a small country in West Africa) but the  original lyrics  were a love song and were even used as a lullaby (literally the song said "don't cr

                                                Although for many of the African countries Christmas comes during  the summer months, accompanied by plenty of sun and colorful flowers in  full bloom, the spirit of Christmas on this continent continues  being the same. All African countries share the tradition  global reuniting families.  Here, many families are separated  for much of the year, as parents and grandparents live in villages  remote, while the younger generation is usually far from home  in towns and cities, and this special time of year brings them all together.  Christmas celebrations in South Africa begin with gifts  on Christmas morning, which is December 25, followed by  a traditional Christmas dinner or braai in the afternoon. The  South Africans usually have dinner on Christmas Day (December 25)  and do not on Christmas Eve (December 24).  The tree is decorated a few days before the arrival of  St. Nicholas and the 'South African Christmas tree'  is used, co

  Without a doubt, South Africa is one of the most important countries of the African continent. Atypically its center is divided into different cities. Pretoria is in charge of administrative power, Bloemfontein holds the judiciary and the legislature is in Cape Town. One of the great points in common they have The different beliefs, is the holiday of December 25.   Here, many families are largely separated of the year, as parents and grandparents live in villages remote, while the younger generation is usually away from home in towns and cities, and this special time of the year brings them all together.   This day is usually going to church to commemorate the birth of the Child Jesus. Although, many people take advantage of the night of the 24, after Christmas Eve dinner. While many of the Christmas traditions of southern Africa were instilled by the British during colonial times and are very similar to the traditions we have at home, Christmas celebrations in the North African regi

                                                                                                                           FOOD IN DAILY LIFE It consists of the traditionally simple meal of starches and meats characteristic of an agricultural and frontier society. Early pioneer Afrikaner farmers sometimes subsisted entirely on meat when conditions for the grain trade were not favourable. There is only one specialized cuisine in the Cape, with its mix of Dutch, English and Southeast Asian cuisine. Food plays a central role in the family and community life of all groups, except perhaps the British. EATING CUSTOMS ON CEREMONIAL OCCASIONS The gift and provision of food, centered on the ritual slaughter of livestock, are central to all rites of passage and notable occasions in black communities. The slaughter and brewing of traditional cereal beer are essential to ensure the participation and goodwill of ancestors, who are considered the guardians of good fortune, prosperity and well-being.

  Despite the socialist roots of the ruling ANC, South Africa is traditionally a  deeply religious country with high rates of participation in religious life  among all groups. The population is overwhelmingly Christian, with very few  Jewish, Muslim and Hindu minorities.   Among Christian denominations, the Dutch Calvinist Reformed Church is by far the largest, as most whites and some black Afrikaners belong to it. Other major denominations include Roman Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian and Anglican, the latter led by Bishop Desmond Tutu, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.   The apostolic and pentacostal churches also have a large number of black members. The black African indigenous religion focused on ancestor veneration and guidance, belief in various lesser spirits, spiritual modes of healing, and seasonal agricultural rites.   The consumption of cereal beer and the ritual slaughter of cattle accompanied the numerous occasions of celebration of family and community ritual