Christmas! Christmas!! Christmas!!! Christmas in Ghana is a season of magic and wonder.
Every Ghanaian has their own definition to what Christmas means to them. It reminds me of the fact that no matter what one might go through, nothing is permanent. It brings joy and assurance that tomorrow can be better.
The December weather greets us with dry air in the day and warmth at night. When this weather change is experienced, Ghanaians begin to harvest their inner Christmas spirit.
Neighbours begin to play sweet local and global Christmas carols to inform that the greatest season of the year is in.
Workers begin to work harder.
Children try to obey every rule set by their parents.
We greet each other:
- “May a good year meet you.” / “May we be alive to see another year as any form of bad luck moves far from us.”
- Ga dangbe: “Afioo Afi.” / “Afi aya ni eba nina wor, wor femomoomo, alonte din ko akafo wor ten.”
- Akans: “Afihyiapaoo.” / “Afi nkor nbe to yen.”
- Ewes: “Blonya fedzorgbenyuie na mi.” / “Blonya fedzorgbenui.”
This runs through the whole month. But the main celebration begins on 24 December and ends after the first week of the new year.
Christmas Eve begins with decorations of house and church buildings with bright lights along with colourful artefacts. On this day, folks visit their families at home. They then join their families for a midnight activity.
The activity that a Ghanaian will engage in on this day varies. Some choose to go partying, others prefer to stay indoor with their families but my family prefers to go for a church service where we sing local Christmas carols, hymns songs of praise and pray into the upcoming year.
On 26 December, women prepare special meals for their families while the men and young ones engage in so many different kinds of games and sports.
The King and the royal family along with many sponsors may place a trophy and the team to win gets the ultimate prize.
During the days from 27-30 December, most families get to spend time together: shopping, visiting entertainment parks, tourist sites or the beach. Basically, we engage in anything fun.
31 December is a magical day. It is a time for self-assessment and making new year resolutions. The day is mostly silent as families meet to discuss the way forward into the next year. The leaders of the church and the society call on people to try to solve disputes. The church organizes an all-night service.
With empty streets, neglected drinking spots and bars, sports centres closed, turned tables on the streets, the location of almost everyone is the church. People come to confess their sins, hoping to see the next year going well for them.
1 January is a blessed day. Every house in the community spends so much time to prepare different kinds of foods. They share these foods as gifts to their neighbours. This is a day to get satisfied and make merry.
The celebrations end exactly a week after. Things go back to normal. Schools begin to reopen for students; workers go back to work; everything follows in the normal way.
People plan for the life ahead hoping that things will go better than the previous year.
–Gborbitey Isaac Nii Torgbor is a member of Ghana Mennonite Church, Ghana. He is the Africa representative on the YABs Committee (Young AnaBaptists).