How Christmas is celebrated on different days in the Global South
The holiday cheers catch up with many people across the globe on the 25th of December every year. At this time of the year, the streets light up, Christmas songs and carols take over the airwaves, events and parties are at their peak, family and friends meet up and celebrations are extensive.
The period is used to acknowledge the birth of Christ and per the Gregorian calendar which is followed by most countries around the globe, the official Christmas day falls on December 25.
The Gregorian calendar was introduced in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII as an improved leap year system which skips 10 days to align with the solar year. The Gregorian calendar came to replace the Julian Calendar introduced by Julius Caesar in 45 BCE which was based on a solar year with 365.25 days.
Although most countries including Europe adopted the Gregorian calendar, some others stuck with the Julian calendar and therefore celebrate Christmas on January 7, about 13 days after the majority of the world does.
While the lights, gifts and trees are set aside for life to begin in a new year, many Orthodox groups in different countries now gear up for the Christmas festivities around the time.
Which African countries celebrate Christmas after New Year?
Egypt, Ethiopia and Eritrea are the three African countries that mark Christmas on January 7. These countries usually practice the Orthodox observation of Christ’s birth according to the Julian calendar.
Prior to their celebration, Coptic Christians in some of these three countries observe a fast that begins on November 25.
In Egypt for example, during Christmas, people avoid consuming meat and dairy products and stick strictly to a vegan diet during this period.
After 40 days of fasting, families in these countries per tradition hold special feasts to commemorate the end of their fast. Some prepare 12 dishes to represent the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ mostly with bread breaking. On January 7 which is considered Christmas day, families and friends organise parties and celebrate.
According to The Standard, families engage in singing at Orthodox ceremonies on the morning of Christmas (Ledet) on January 7 in Ethiopia and play games after service. Games like 'Gena' which are played with a curved stick are played whilst traditional foods like ‘wat’, a spicy and thick stew with meat, vegetables and eggs are shared.
Christmas day in Eritrea known as Gena is spent feasting with family. Many families enjoy Italian foods and coffee is shared around the table.
Other countries that do not recognise Christmas
Meanwhile, in some countries around in Global South, Christmas is not officially recognised as a holiday or a religious festival.
Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Afghanistan, Bhutan, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, and Yemen do not recognise Christmas on December 25 or January 7.
The rest are Bahrain, China, Cambodia, Comoros, Iran, Kuwait, Laos, Maldives, Mongolia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam.
