Alexis Rios Piña

  This date commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, according to the Bible. History says that the Jews were waiting for the arrival of a savior, whose action would seal the covenant between God and men. The New Testament raises the essence of why we celebrate Christmas. The angel proclaims the "Good News" of Jesus' birth in the population of Bethlehem. Now, Christmas is not counted among the festivities original Christian ones, those made by Irenaeus of Lyons or by Tertullian, who they are the oldest known and date back to the second and third centuries. It wasn't until the fourth century when it began to be officially celebrated.   The first recorded mention of interest in date of birth of Jesus we find in Alexandria, approximately in the year 200 of our era. However, most sources agree that the first Christmas celebration was held during the reign of Emperor Constantine, December 25, 336. It wasn't until a few years later, with the Pope Julius I,

                                                               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

  The first Europeans to venture into the country were the Portuguese,  those who had  no colonizing intentions and, therefore, did not t hey settled in this place.   The Dutch did colonize the region. Initially in 1652 established small settlements at the Cape of Good Hope and expanded to form the Cape Colony. At the end of the century XVIII the English seized the Dutch colony, transforming themselves then in a British colony.   The European population began to expand and struggles began with the natives on the possession of the land with abundant casualties in both sides. Hostilities also began between the Dutch and The British and many of these Dutch emigrated and settled in the central area of the region known as the Highveld where they formed four Republics.   The descendants of the Dutch colonialists at that time were Known as boers (farmers, in Dutch), they had two wars with the British, called the Anglo-Boer Wars, which ended in the defeat of these and their independent republi

 First inhabitants The first known Homo sapiens in the area are the bushman tribes, who were primarily hunters. About 2500 years ago Bantu tribes migrated from the Niger River Delta into what is now South Africa and apparently lived peacefully with the Bushman in the region.  Little is known about this time because these tribes did not know writing and the little knowledge we have comes from archaeological findings. Later other tribes migrated to South Africa such as the Khoi, San, Xhosas, Zulu and others By: Alexis Rios    

  South Africa or Republic of South Africa. Country located in the  extreme south of   Africa.  It borders   Namibia ,   Botswana ,   Zimbabwe , Mozambique   and   Swaziland . The   Kingdom of Lesotho   is located within the Republic of South Africa.  Its capitals are Pretoria (administrative), Bloemfontein (judicial) and Cape Town (legislative).  South Africa is known for its diversity of cultures, languages and religious beliefs.  Eleven languages are recognized as official by the  Constitution   of South Africa.  Two of the eleven languages are of  European origin:   Afrikaans , a language that comes directly from  Dutch   and  is spoken by the majority of white inhabitants and mestizos, and   English . Although the latter has an important role in public  and commercial life, it is nevertheless the fifth language by native speakers. By: Alexis Rios Piña