THE FESTIVE SEASON IN SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa is one of the countries that
celebrate Christmas and New Year to the maxi
-mum possible heights.This is mainly due to
the Christian religion and culture in which
the country is rooted,even though,according
to the constitution of the country,no religion enjoys a higher status than others.
The core of the festive season here is the
closure of educational institutions for more
than a month,to mark the end of the academic
year.The return of children to their homes,
dumping their books for the rest of the year,ignites the festive mood.The parents are obliged to please their children in whatever ways possible,and there's no looking back.
In the final stage of the countdown to Christmas,all factories and mines are closed
to enable workers to go to their villages to
spend time with loved ones.The parliment and
the courts are closed during this season.
Unlike Indians,South Africans are good spenders not savers.They exemplify the saying "kanam vittum onam unnanam,ie in their case,Christmas.Malayalees mainly save
money to buy gold for their daughters,and for accumulating an amount for dowry.Africans rarely save,because the dowry
system is upside down here in the form of 'lobola'or bride price,given to the girl's father by an aspiring suitor.Most ironically,in this country where tons of gold is mined,there are few jewelleries,and the common people don't possess even a gram of gold.
South Africans have a tourism culture,in which families spend one or two weeks elsewhere.During the apartheid era,family holidays were exclusively for the white elite,with people of other races banned from
beaches and resorts.Since the dawn of democracy in 1994,domestic tourism received a shot in the arm,with black families adopting the holiday culture,mainly during
Christmas holidays.
During the festive season,traffic volumes increase tenfold,due to people travelling to their villages and back.As private cars are the main form of transport in the country,the roads are inundated with vehicles,and accidents result in a heavy death toll,running into thousands.
There's no life without 'brai'in South Africa.Braaing is the barbique on a brrai stand filled with hot charcoal.South Africans prefer to celebrate happy occasions
with a brai under a leafy tree.The brai industry is a thriving industry due to the
high demand for brai meat.All types of high
quality meat,professionally cut,spiced or unspiced,together with charcoal,lighters,spices etc are readily and
abundantly available in every nook and corner of South Africa.And it goes without
saying that South Africans are veteran drinkers.They are more fortunate than their
counterparts in Kerala,there's no need to queue for liquor here.Fully stored and professionally managed "bottle stores' are a
common sight even in small towns.If you need
10 or 100 cartons of beer or whisky,just pay the money and take it!During this season
there are two kinds of flooding here;first,the flooding caused by summer rains;second the flooding of liquor.To have
a brai under a tree with friends and family,with the drink of your choice,is a unique African experience.
The festive season has two phases,Christmas and New Year.Not all people observe the religious ceremonies associated with Christmas.To all,it's a prolonged holiday,with 26 December and 1st January being public holidays.
Nearly half of South African Malayalees travel to Kerala during this season.The one
month holiday is ideal for visiting Kerala,with lots of weddings and other functions on the cards.With one or two exceptions,my wife Leelamma have travelled to Kerala every December.The trip is specially enjoyable because our two daughters are married and settled in India,and we have 5 grandchildren with ages ranging from 7 to 2.We depart on Friday,14th December.
Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year to all.
South Africa is one of the countries that
celebrate Christmas and New Year to the maxi
-mum possible heights.This is mainly due to
the Christian religion and culture in which
the country is rooted,even though,according
to the constitution of the country,no religion enjoys a higher status than others.
The core of the festive season here is the
closure of educational institutions for more
than a month,to mark the end of the academic
year.The return of children to their homes,
dumping their books for the rest of the year,ignites the festive mood.The parents are obliged to please their children in whatever ways possible,and there's no looking back.
In the final stage of the countdown to Christmas,all factories and mines are closed
to enable workers to go to their villages to
spend time with loved ones.The parliment and
the courts are closed during this season.
Unlike Indians,South Africans are good spenders not savers.They exemplify the saying "kanam vittum onam unnanam,ie in their case,Christmas.Malayalees mainly save
money to buy gold for their daughters,and for accumulating an amount for dowry.Africans rarely save,because the dowry
system is upside down here in the form of 'lobola'or bride price,given to the girl's father by an aspiring suitor.Most ironically,in this country where tons of gold is mined,there are few jewelleries,and the common people don't possess even a gram of gold.
South Africans have a tourism culture,in which families spend one or two weeks elsewhere.During the apartheid era,family holidays were exclusively for the white elite,with people of other races banned from
beaches and resorts.Since the dawn of democracy in 1994,domestic tourism received a shot in the arm,with black families adopting the holiday culture,mainly during
Christmas holidays.
During the festive season,traffic volumes increase tenfold,due to people travelling to their villages and back.As private cars are the main form of transport in the country,the roads are inundated with vehicles,and accidents result in a heavy death toll,running into thousands.
There's no life without 'brai'in South Africa.Braaing is the barbique on a brrai stand filled with hot charcoal.South Africans prefer to celebrate happy occasions
with a brai under a leafy tree.The brai industry is a thriving industry due to the
high demand for brai meat.All types of high
quality meat,professionally cut,spiced or unspiced,together with charcoal,lighters,spices etc are readily and
abundantly available in every nook and corner of South Africa.And it goes without
saying that South Africans are veteran drinkers.They are more fortunate than their
counterparts in Kerala,there's no need to queue for liquor here.Fully stored and professionally managed "bottle stores' are a
common sight even in small towns.If you need
10 or 100 cartons of beer or whisky,just pay the money and take it!During this season
there are two kinds of flooding here;first,the flooding caused by summer rains;second the flooding of liquor.To have
a brai under a tree with friends and family,with the drink of your choice,is a unique African experience.
The festive season has two phases,Christmas and New Year.Not all people observe the religious ceremonies associated with Christmas.To all,it's a prolonged holiday,with 26 December and 1st January being public holidays.
Nearly half of South African Malayalees travel to Kerala during this season.The one
month holiday is ideal for visiting Kerala,with lots of weddings and other functions on the cards.With one or two exceptions,my wife Leelamma have travelled to Kerala every December.The trip is specially enjoyable because our two daughters are married and settled in India,and we have 5 grandchildren with ages ranging from 7 to 2.We depart on Friday,14th December.
Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year to all.
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