The holiday time here is special. Not that it is not special back at home, but here it is just different.
In the U.S. the holiday season begins with Thanksgiving, a day of thanks and a commemoration of the Pilgrims landing in Plymouth (now more a commemoration of football). In South Africa there is no designated day of thanksgiving. However, as the year comes to an end many organizations and families choose to have thanksgivings. They throw parties, invite their friends and family, and reflect on all they have to be thankful about in the past year. I really like the idea of thanksgiving not being mandatory, but truly a time to give thanks.
In the U.S. people might take a week or less off of work, but in South Africa many people have the entire month off and spend it at home. The concept of home is a bit different here in South Africa. Home is where your family is originally from, often times where your ancestors going back generations have been buried. This home never changes and in fact is usually made up of a number of homes, rooms, and huts where each member of the family, often times extended family, has built their own place to stay. Unlike when people move in the United States, people here will always have at least a room/home for themselves where their family is from. If they have to move away for work they do not sell this home, they keep it and will rent a more temporary room/home near where they work. In December the towns and cities empty out as people return to their true home for Christmas.
The holiday time is not just centered around Christmas in South Africa, it is a time of all kinds of celebrations. Since it is summer here, many people choose to have their weddings during this time. This time also marks the time of circumcision. As I have mentioned before, the Xhosa men are circumcised into adulthood at around the age of 18. Small huts made of tarps and plastic bags have popped up across the country side. This is where the boys will have to live for the 4ish weeks of their recovery. They are circumcised without any painkillers, then while they heal they must live out in the bush (often with some sort of caretaker at least nearby) in these shelters without any electricity, or running water. For this time they cover their bodies in a white chalk/paint made out of rocks and wear nothing but blankets. For the days leading up to their circumcision the boys will wear crazy costumes, usually consisting of bright jewellery, out of the ordinary haircuts, clothing with holes cut in it, and straps that go over their shoulders made of sheep’s wool. They are often seen among groups of their peers, blowing whistles, waving sticks, singing songs, and dancing to draw attention to the fact that they will soon become men.
Getting Ready for Circumcision
Many traditions are the same though. The people that can afford it will put up Christmas lights, many homes and store fronts are decorated with garland, and just like in the United States this time of year is a time of parties, but people here really know how to party. Over the past week I have attended three parties that the SEF branches have for their clients and will attend one more Wednesday before our staff party on Thursday. These parties consist of a lot of singing and dancing, speeches, awards and of course, a lot of food. The clients actually cook a lunch meal for everyone (usually about 200 people) which is a pretty amazing feat. There is always a DJ and in between each speaker he will put on a song and everyone will break out into singing and dancing. Its quite a site. Its also cool because the clients come to these parties in their traditional dress, and I was even lent a sash and crown made of beads that is typical traditional dress for the men.
Cooking
Fitting In
A Group Celebrating
The holiday time has been a lot of fun here, but now I am really just looking forward to returning home in a few days. Since I will be at home I probably won’t write again until January, so until next time…..Salani Kakhule.
Life's A Trip 