Uganda
In Uganda, preparation for Christmas celebration starts as early as mid November. At this time, the radio stations start playing Christmas songs and highlighting special offers and promotions for products. These activities and other festivities will run until January 2nd. While this period is referred to as the Christmas festive season, the proper name for Christmas in Uganda is Sekukkulu. One wishes another a Merry Christmas by saying Sekukkulu ennungi.
In this time of the year, members of the family build up their expectations for special things like new clothes and new shoes for all the family. They also start to focus on the special family meals for Christmas day, family gatherings, gift sharing and evening outings for the evening of December 25th. As days get closer to 15th, poor husbands or men start panicking, as they need all the money they can get their hands on so they can buy a bull for slaughtering for Christmas. Women also seek to put some money together but the women's aim is to buy rice.
For those who are able to buy new outfits for their families, they tend to buy clothes a lot earlier and keep them hidden away until Christmas Day. This gift buying is a relatively new practice and is mainly done in the cities. Many of the people in the rural areas live in poverty, so the gifts are more practical, such as meats or vegetables grown in the river's fields. Children in Uganda do not believe in Santa Claus, which is why they never expect any gifts other than new clothes should their family be able to buy them.
Transportation prices triple during the period from December 23rd to January 2nd as many are travelling home for Christmas. Unfortunately, food prices also escalate during this period. Notwithstanding, people will still seek to find ways to ensure that they participate in the annual family reunion and all of the festivities, including having a very special meal. Sekukkulu is not about the giving and receiving of presents as it is in the West but it is about spending time with family, enjoying music and food.
Unlike other countries, the term Christmas Eve is used in Uganda to refer to the evening of the 25th. However, December 24th is the day when families will usually start preparations for their Christmas meal. In the evening of that day, the decorations are put on natural Pinus Patura trees ( these look just like artificial Christmas trees). In addition to the tree lights, balloons are put on the tree which is put in the corner of the living room.
December 25th is a big day of celebration and enjoyment. Some people will spend the day at the beach with their friends. However generally in the cities, the churches are the center of the celebrations, with the church bells ringing , carols by candlelight and other events held during the day. All family members put on their new clothes and go to church, bringing envelopes with some money to offer to church as a birthday gift to Jesus.
After the church service, all family members return home and have dinner, which has been slow cooked from the day before. The special Christmas meal is chicken, beef, rice, chapati, flatbread and matooke, a most expensive meal. Matooke is an essential part of the meal as it is indigenous fruit, East African highland bananas, which is steamed and mashed. Where possible, roasted goat meat is a well appreciated addition to the Christmas dinner. At around 8 pm on Christmas Eve, the young boys and young girls go out clubbing, while older men and women stay home and continue to enjoy time together. All over the cities there are dance and singing performances and football matches.
Unfortunately, after Christmas Day, many of the families are broke due to the heavy spending during the Christmas and they start seeking loans to get back to their place of work. Others start selling some of their valuables to get back!
