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. The schools are closed for the Christmas holidays and some people like to go camping. Going carol singing, on Christmas Eve, is very popular in towns and cities. Carols by Candlelight services are also popular on Christmas Eve. And many people go to a Christmas morning church service.
Traditional ‘fir’ Christmas tree are popular and children leave a stocking out for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.
The Christmas meal is either turkey (or duck), roast beef, mince pies or suckling pig with yellow rice and raisins and vegetables, followed by Christmas pudding or a traditional South African dessert called Malva Pudding (sometimes also called Lekker Pudding). People also like to pull Christmas crackers! The meal is often eaten outside in the summer sun! If it’s really hot, they might even have a barbecue or ‘braai’.
