By Jarred Etheredge, Missionary to South Africa

Here in South Africa, Christmas is celebrated in various ways depending on the cultural background of the people you are with. We have celebrated with Portuguese, Afrikaans, and Pedi families, each having their own distinct traditions, over the past decade. Each one has similarities to the way we celebrated Christmas back in Texas with an emphasis on food and family, but also had the cultural elements which made them each unique. For instance, Portuguese culture traditionally serves Bacalao, or cod fish. The Afrikaans culture enjoyed savory pies and cakes. The Pedi culture enjoys a traditional meal called seven colors which is, as it sounds, various dishes of different color vegetables like beets and pumpkin with a meat of course. One huge difference is the heat! Christmas in summer is definitely something we had to get used to. Where we are located, we will never see the traditional American idea of a white Christmas as temps are commonly over 100 degrees in December.

In the Pedi culture, which we live among now, Christmas has very little commercial emphasis. Decorations and such are not common. The most anticipated tradition is the new set of “Christmas clothes” that is customarily given to be worn on Christmas Day. Often if any other gifts are given, children receive stationary school supplies for the upcoming school year that begins in January, or new school shoes, if their families can afford to do this. 

Last year we were blessed to be able to make relationships with local farmers in the area through agricultural discipleship programs. Through these relationships we had an opportunity to purchase watermelons for the community as well as distribute Bibles and tracts to the field workers and pray with them. It was such a blessing to see people’s faces light up to receive a Bible and tract for Christmas! Our area is quite poor so a watermelon is a luxury not many can afford. We drove around gifting the watermelons to those we could with our sons and even sharing some pre cut pieces with all we passed on the hot summer day. Driving around the village to all the local church members and community members that we had built a relationship with helped us to make new connections and share the Good News of Jesus. We kept a few watermelons back to have with some of our friends and ministry partners at our first Christmas Day Barbecue as well. 

Even in our home, we try to not live in such a way that would contrast us as separated from our local people. Even in the exchange of gifts we have adopted the same emphasis as the people around us with a new set of Christmas clothes and maybe a book. We have seen that, more than giving items we can have to enjoy for a short time that later we forget about and collect dust, the people here prefer to build memories that will last and build familial bonds. We saw this in our children being part of the watermelon gift giving. It was very special and made a great impact on them as well as those they gave to. Service unto the Lord together as family is one way we would recommend to celebrate the birth of our Savior. Though our home will no longer be seen adorned with a big tree and ornaments, decorations on every surface, or advent calendars with treats like it was when we were in the States, it is still full of Christmas cheer. The purpose of the season is not to fill a home with stuff but to fill hearts with the truth of Christmas and the Gift God freely gives in Jesus.