10 Ways to Bring a Little South Africa Into Christmas If You’re Overseas

For anyone far from South Africa over Christmas, it might even seem further if you have snow instead of hot sandy beaches. While our Christmas traditions aren’t too different from everyone else’s abroad, there are still a few things that make a South African Christmas unique. So, to bring a little of SA closer to you these holidays, here goes.

Feast on gammon

No South African Christmas dinner table is complete without a fat gammon perched in the centre. This succulent Christmas ham, studded with cloves, will bring your taste buds back to South Africa no matter where you are (and is easy to get in countries like England and Australia where it’s an equally popular Christmas tradition).

The real Christmas pudding is Malva pudding

The most famous South African pudding, sometimes known as lekker pudding, is prominent in every important meal. While many families still celebrate with a Christmas pudding for dessert, it is mainly just for show, while the malva pudding is to satisfy. Here’s our delicious Malva pudding recipe so you can enjoy it yourself on Christmas Day.

Turn up the heat

If you have moved to the Northern Hemisphere, your chances of experiencing a hot Christmas are minute (despite it being a lot warmer this season with temperatures in New York reaching 22 degrees celcius today!). Even though the classic ‘white Christmas’ complete with snowmen and sled rides is romantic, there is nothing better than lazing by the pool on Christmas Day.

If you aren’t able to experience the sun outside, try turn up the thermostat enough to break out the shorts and T-shirt. If you’re feeling adventurous you could even put a small paddling pool indoors for a Christmas pool party. (Actually, quite a few families in South Africa may be doing the same thing after the weatherman predicted that parts of SA are likely to experience a rainy Christmas.)

Enjoy some fufu

Introduced into West Africa from the Carribbean, many communities won’t even think of having Christmas dinner without fufu. It is a paste made of rice and yam that is rolled into a sticky ball and then dipped into stew or okra soup. Adding it to your Christmas dinner will certainly bring in a strong African influence to the tummy.

Sprinkle a little biltong

Even though Australia and America have tried to keep up with South Africa’s standards of dried meat, their jerky isn’t quite up to par for a South African palate. At any time of the year, biltong can be brought out and its taste will revive any fading memories of South Africa. So why not jazz up Christmas dinner with a little biltong here and there – perhaps sprinkled over some roast potatoes. And if you don’t have a supplier near you, make your own home-made biltong.

Bring out the braai

The braai, not the barbeque – there is a big difference between the two, as any true South African will know. Host a social braai for Christmas dinner, and maybe even bring out the old Black Label beer too. An indoor braai might be better suited for the colder weather though.

Add some colour to the table, especially the food

We Africans love our colour, especially our reds and blue and yellows. This is prominent in our clothing, our artwork, our furniture, and even our food. Yellow rice is tasty and a lot more interesting to look at than normal white rice. Add some raisins to really bring out the Cape Malay in your Christmas.

Get together with the neighbours

In South Africa, Christmas is a social event. In many communities Christmas dinner will be hosted outside on the streets free for anyone to join in. So invite the neighbours over for Christmas, or host a large potluck Christmas dinner, to bring the social South African spirit into your home.

Get Zen with sand

As every South African knows, the beach is not somewhere to be on Christmas Day, unless you want to share a metre of sand with five other families. Still, there’s nothing more relaxing wriggling your toes in crisp white sand. But when it’s cold the last thing you want to do is go barefoot. However, the South African beach can be brought into your house in the form of a Zen garden. At least this way you will be able to dip your fingers in the sand and imagine one of South Africa’s glorious beaches.

Go out with a bang

Crackers are a part of many Christmas traditions, but there is nothing quite as loud as a South African cracker pulling event. While everyone pulls together, the shouts and screams of happiness fill the air with Christmas spirit. Maybe even make your own crackers, filled with South African tidbits – see how here or watch SuzelleDIY’s instructions below…

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Catherine Franklin is an Honours graduate from UCT, and is currently working her way towards her dream job of being a journalist. Much of her writing has been published on her blog catchingcapetown.