December 25th is a public holiday in Kenya Schools, offices and most businesses close for the day. Christmas in Kenya is a time to spend with loved ones and eat lots of delicious foods. Christmas is when families across the nation try and are with one another; Many people travel from cities back to the villages where the many parts of their family might live. This is often the only time large families will see each other after the whole year, so it’s a very big deal in Kenya; as a result, traffic jams are common on Christmas Eve.

CHRISTMAS EVE 

People try to be at home for Christmas Eve to help with Christmas preparations by decorating houses and churches with colourful balloons, flowers and green leaves. Many people, especially Christians, will go to a midnight church service to celebrate Christmas, while some people will go to church on Christmas morning traditionally wearing new clothes. The service will have Christmas hymns, carols, songs and even nativity plays which are most widely observed in the Christmas tradition in Kenya. 

STORY OF SANTA IN KENYA

In Kenya, Santa is called Father Christmas. Santa looks very similar to Santa Claus, who visits children in Europe and North America with a full white beard and a red velvet suit. Since Kenya does not have snow, large towns and cities can have fake snow outside malls and stores, but Santa doesn’t come with his reindeer he might come by camel, range rover or even riding a bike.

CHRISTMAS FOOD

Almost everyone agrees that Christmas is all about the birth of Jesus and enjoying a feast. It’s no different in Africa, with many countries putting on their traditional and delicious Christmas meals. It just wouldn’t be Christmas without food in Kenya. It’s tradition to eat a special celebratory meal on Christmas day. One of the most popular Christmas foods in Kenya is the “Nyama Choma”, similar to a barbecue which can be a goat, sheep or chicken and is eaten with rice or chapati as the most common side dish. There is a drink where people go to bars and restaurants in urban areas to drink beer with friends, and in rural areas, people brew their local beer.

CONCLUSION

Wherever you go, and whatever you eat, the Christmas meal in Africa is all about inviting all your friends and family to share in the good times. Everyone is welcome. Interestingly, the exchange of gifts by family and friends is not widely practised, but they enjoy playing fun games together.