The children of Tumaini Youth Center in Kenya are well taken care of in both their physical and spiritual needs. The children send Merry Christmas tidings to all!
12/31/2018
Because South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere, Christmas comes in the summer. So, there’s lots of sun and beautiful flowers in full bloom. In Kenya, Santa doesn’t arrive with his Reindeer but might well come by Land-rover, Camel or even a bike! In cities and large towns, stores can have fake snow outside them, and there might be a Santa in the stores as well. Only small gifts are normally exchanged and sometimes food and gifts are provided by missionary organizations.
The schools are usually closed for the Christmas holidays and some people like to go camping. Many people, especially Christians, will go to a Midnight Church Service to celebrate Christmas. The service will have Christmas hymns, carols & songs; and often nativity plays, poems & dances. Church Services are also celebrated Christmas morning with a feast to follow.
In Kenya, Christmas is a time when families try and be with one another. Many people travel from cities, back to the villages where the main part of their family might live. This is often the only time large families will see each other all year, so it is very important. The 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.
Popular Christmas foods include a barbecue which can be a goat, sheep, beef or chicken. This is eaten with rice and chapati flat bread. 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 Christmas Cake, but these aren’t very common in rural areas.