The history of Christianity in Africa dates back to the 1st century AD, when Egyptian converts founded some of the oldest Christian communities in the world.
In fact, Christmas is celebrated throughout the continent by Christian communities large and small, customs, traditions and even the date of the holidays differ from country to country, but the religious basis of the celebration remains the same.
On Christmas Day, African carols are sung across the continent, meats are roasted, gifts are exchanged, and people travel everywhere to visit family. Christians in Ethiopia and Egypt celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar, which means that although they celebrate on December 25.
Going to church is usually the main focus of Christmas celebrations in Africa, but also nativity scenes are set up, carols are sung and in some cases dances are performed.
In many countries, processions take place after a religious service held on Christmas Eve, these are often joyous occasions of music and dance. Each country has its own celebrations, no matter how small its Christian population is.
As in most Christian cultures, the Christmas dinner is a key holiday ritual in Africa.
Decoration on the facades of shops, trees, churches and homes is common in all Christian communities in Africa. It is even possible to see fake snow on the fronts of decorating shops in Nairobi or candle-laden palm trees in Ghana, of course the firs and evergreens used in North America and Europe are hard to come by, which is why the trees of Christmas are generally replaced by native alternatives.
Spending Christmas in Africa and delving deeper into their customs during these dates is an adventure that you cannot miss.
