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Zimbabwe
Christmas in Zimbabwe
For most people in Zimbabwe, Christmas day starts with a Church service. My Zimbabwean friend who lives in Bulawayo, says that the best bits about Christmas is the way that his family and friends go home from church! After the Church service, everyone has a party in their homes and people go from house to house, visiting all of their family and friends on the way home! Sometimes, this can take all of the rest of the day! At every house you have something to eat, exchange presents and enjoy the party!
A lot of people get their biggest stereo speakers out and put them out side the front of the house and play their favourite music very loudly! It is not only Christmas music that is played, but also the latest pop tunes and old African favourites!
Everyone wears their best clothes for Christmas, as for some families the only new clothes they get every year are for Christmas. The parties are a good place to show off their new clothes!
Children in Zimbabwe believe that Santa Claus brings them there presents early on Christmas Day, ready to show their friends at Church and at the parties.
Only the main room in the house is decorated in Zimbabwe. Most Zimbabwean homes do not have a traditional 'European' Christmas Tree, but they decorate the room with plants like Ivy. This is draped round the whole of the top of room.
My friend says that they don't have carol singers in Zimbabwe and that the only time that carols are sung is during the Christmas Day morning service.
The Christmas Cards that are used in Zimbabwe often have African pictures on them, such as wild animals, rather than snow scenes!
The special food eaten at Christmas in Zimbabwe is Chicken with rice. Chicken is a very expensive food in Zimbabwe and is a special treat for Christmas. This is often eaten at the Christmas Day parties.
Since this page was written a few years ago, sadly the sitution in Zimbabwe has become very bad. If you'd like to know more about the situation in Zimbabwe and how it has come about, please visit these sites:
Zimbabwe Country profile at BBC News
Zimbabwe Situation