South Africa

The Afrikaans' name for Santa Claus is Vader Krismis (Father Christmas), and only recently has the more traditional Santa Claus been used, due to Western influences. Christmas decorations and lights adorn most big cities and streets. People also tend to decorate offices and homes excessively from the start of December to the start of January. With so many cultural influences together in one country, a lot of different traditions have been incorporated into Christmas, but the main undertone from everyone is still to celebrate the day with family and friends.

Christmas in South Africa is a summer holiday. The southern summer brings glorious days of sunshine that carry an irresistible invitation to the beaches, the rivers and the shaded mountain slopes. In the cities and towns, carolers make their rounds on Christmas Eve. Church services are held on Christmas morning. Christmas Eve celebrations include "Carols by Candlelight" and special screen and floor shows.

Homes are decorated with pine branches and all have the decorated Christmas fir in a corner, with presents for the children. At bedtime on Christmas Eve, children may also hang up their stockings for presents from “Father Christmas.”

Many South Africans have a Christmas dinner in the open-air lunch. For many more, it is the traditional dinner of either turkey, roast beef, mince pies, or suckling pig, yellow rice with raisins, vegetables, plum pudding, crackers, paper hats and all. Or, the good old fashioned South African "Braaivleis" or barbeque. In the afternoon, families go out into the country and usually there are games or bathing in the warm sunshine, and then home in the cool of the evening. Boxing Day is also a proclaimed public holiday usually spent in the open air. It falls on December 26th and is a day of real relaxation.