Africa as a Continent - Celebrating Christmas

Christmas traditions in Africa may have their unique twists in each country, but the essence remains familiar: special meals, family gatherings, and joyful celebrations. Traveling the continent shows that, despite differences, people everywhere share the same love for food, family, and festive togetherness. So let’s explore the world and the Christmas traditions people love on the content of Africa. (Which naturally includes food…) 🙂

1. Christmas in South Africa

In early December the schools in South Africa close for the Christmas holiday which is during Africa’s summertime. Many people head to seaside destinations like Hermanus. Christmas in South Africa feels laid-back and sunny, with family picnics, beach days, braais, cold meats and salads, and churches filled early on Christmas morning. Markets, carols, and relaxed outdoor gatherings set the tone for a warm, easygoing festive season.

Carols by Candlelight: Yes, many communities still enjoy Carols by Candlelight. You’ll find them in public parks, church gardens, wine estates, and small-town squares. People bring blankets, glow candles, and picnic baskets, creating a gentle, summery Christmas atmosphere that feels wonderfully South African.
Santa Clause / Father Christmas (Kersvader / Vader Kersfees in Afrikaans) brings presents to the children. Most families open their gifts on Christmas Eve (24 December). Christmas morning (25 December) starts with church, followed by a generous lunch at home. The rest of the day rolls into relaxed visits, shared treats, and an easy afternoon spent with friends and loved ones.
Traditional Christmas food: Some families fire up a braai to make the most of the warm summer weather. Others lay out a full feast with gammon, meatballs, chicken, turkey, duck, rice, vegetables, and fresh salads. Trifle or a summer pavlova usually steals the spotlight when it’s time for dessert.

How to say Merry Christmas in South Africa:

In Afrikaans: Geseënde Kersfees
Zulu: Jabulela Ukhisimusi
Sesotho: Kereseme e monate
Xhosa: IKrismesi emnandi
You may also come across other languages like Portuguese. Then Happy or Merry Christmas is ‘Feliz Natal’.
Africa is a continent with many languages. But mostly you can say ‘Merry Christmas’ (in English) and everyone will understand you.

Saying Merry Christmas in Madagascar

People greet each other with ‘Arahaba tratry ny Noely’ which means Merry Christmas.

2. Christmas in Madagascar

How do they celebrate Christmas?

Flowers: The Poinsettia is a favorite plant to have indoors in South Africa during Christmas time. However, in Madagascar, it grows as large outdoor shrubs. (The Poinsettia is Native to Madagascar and simply beautiful.)
Traditions: In Madagascar families normally eat Christmas dinner together.
The food: Dishes like Chicken and/or Pork with rice and fresh fish and fruit are popular. They also have a special cake they make, referred to as the Malagasy Cake.

You’ll see families dressed in bright clothes, and plenty of sweet treats made with local vanilla. It’s a colorful, friendly celebration that blends island charm with easygoing festive spirit.
TRAVEL TIP: The weather sits firmly in the hot, humid cyclone season, so keep your plans flexible and choose accommodations with reliable power and air-conditioning.

3. Christmas on Réunion Island

Do they celebrate Christmas and what is it like?

Food: Reunionese tables usually have the following traditional dishes during Christmas time: Lobster and other curries, Creole pâté, along with rice, broad beans and mango rougail. They also have the traditional Christmas log made with sweet potato and for pudding a choice of lychis and other fruit.

On this island you can experience the Christmas traditions in Africa in many ways. One of which include hanging around at the beach.

Christmas on Réunion Island feels warm, tropical, and full of life. The island lights up with street decorations, seaside markets, and music drifting through the villages. Families gather outdoors for late dinners filled with Creole dishes, fresh seafood, and sweet treats touched with local vanilla.

Christmas is celebrated on December 25th, with strong Catholic traditions, including midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.
Weather: Christmas falls in the summer season (hot and humid), perfect for outdoor gatherings, beach picnics, and barbecues.
Music and events: Local music mixes French carols with sega and maloya rhythms, often played at markets, public celebrations, and concerts.
Markets and shopping: Christmas markets sell local crafts, decorations, and food items, especially in Saint-Denis, Saint-Pierre, and Saint-Paul.

Reunion Island, tucked in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar, has some truly unique holiday traditions, and their Christmas log is one of them. Unlike the classic French bûche de Noël made from sponge cake and buttercream, Reunion’s version is rooted in local ingredients and flavors—most famously, sweet potato.

This festive log, often called a bûche de patate douce, is made by boiling or roasting sweet potatoes until tender, then mashing them and flavoring it with sugar and vanilla.

An easy – Sweet Potato Christmas Log Recipe

( bûche de patate douce )

INGREDIENTS

1 kg sweet potatoes
3 eggs
250g butter (sovaco)
100g sugar
1 sachet of vanilla flavored sugar
A little liquor (anisette or Marie Brizard)

METHOD

Boil 1kg sweet potatoes
Peel and crush them
Mix with 250g butter, 100g sugar, 1 bag of vanilla flavored sugar, a little liquor, 3 eggs
Place in log shaped mold and glaze over with egg yolk
Bake in oven for 30 minutes at 180°C

Unique twist: Some communities combine French and Malagasy customs, creating a colorful mix of European-style carols, tropical flavors, and island flair.

4. Christmas in Namibia (South Africa’s Neighboring Country)

What is Christmas like in Namibia?

Namibia celebrates Christmas much like South Africa, where gatherings with friends and family are important. (Actually, that is important all around the world. No matter where you celebrate Christmas.)

On Christmas eve some people go to midnight mass and Christmas day is also a day to go to church.
As Namibia has a lot of German influence, many people still make traditional German cookies for Christmas.
Most of the towns switch their Christmas lights on around the 6th of December each year.

How to say Merry Christmas in Namibia:

Languages such as English, German and Afrikaans are spoken in Namibia. The English version of saying ‘Merry Christmas’ is widely understood. Or you can say ‘Frohe Weihnachten’ (German) and ‘Geseënde Kersfees’ (Afrikaans).

Christmas cookies known as Weihnachtsplätzchen are a favorite during Christmas time:

Lebkuchen – traditional German gingerbread,
Bethmännchen – traditional marzipan cookie,
Dominosteine – Gingerbread with marzipan and chocolate.
Apple Fritters (Appelbeignets aka Appelflappen) is also a favorite.

5. Christmas in Kenya

How is Christmas celebrated in Kenya? Do they celebrate Christmas?

Yes, Christmas in Kenya is a warm, family-centered celebration filled with food, faith, and togetherness. Visitors will notice the joyful exodus from cities to rural villages, as people from Nairobi, Mombasa, and beyond return home, creating a lively, welcoming atmosphere perfect for sharing in special family time.

Food: Families gather for big meals, often featuring roast meats, chapati, rice dishes, and festive cakes. In Kenya Christmas foods include goat meat, sheep, beef or chicken served with rice and chapati (a flat bread). In the city and tourist areas, the meals are however more western and you will have much more options.

They do have a Father Christmas that hands out presents to good children. A Christmas tradition in Africa that all kids love (sometimes also the ‘older kids’).

How to say Merry Christmas in Kenya

In Swahili/Kiswahili: ‘Heri ya Krismasi’ and in the Maasai language (also called Maa or Kimaasai) it’s ‘nchipai e Kirismas’.

6. Christmas in Seychelles

Do they celebrate Christmas in the Seychelles? / What to expect.

Family gatherings: Families and friends gather for big dinners, beach parties, and social visits, making it a highly communal holiday.
Tourist-friendly: Many resorts and hotels host special Christmas events, concerts, and festive dinners, offering visitors a taste of local traditions.
Unique twist: The celebration mixes French, African, and Indian Ocean island influences, giving it a colorful and relaxed tropical flavor.
Church: The majority of Seychellois, on December 24, attend the Midnight Mass to celebrate Christmas Eve. Then there is another mass the next morning for the birth of baby Jesus.

But as you can expect with the ocean being around 28 degrees, most of the day is spent on the beach. Here you can have a ‘quiet getaway’ during Christmas time and enjoy some well deserved rest and relaxation. Seychelles is a beautiful place to visit. Read more…

Discover beautiful places to stay: Read more…