The Christmas Season in Maputo

So far the Christmas season has been very low key in Maputo. There is one store comparable to an expensive Target that has gaudy looking decorations up and for sale. We’ve seen one small lighted tree in a window and that’s about it. December 25 is called “Day of the Family” here thanks to the Communist era and the fact that many Muslims and Hindus call Maputo their home. Instead of “Feliz Natal” (happy or merry Christmas) we hear “Boas Festas” (literally good parties or happy holidays).

We haven’t even seen much advertising or commercial push to “Buy, Buy” on TV. We’ll tell you more when we actually experience a Christmas here, but it seems that it’s more about having lots of food prepared for all the neighbors and friends who stop by than about giving gifts. The reality for most people is that once they buy all the food and drinks there is not much left for gifts. For that matter, there is not much left for food in January. Some workplaces actually save part of the December paycheck for January so that their people have something to live on—a forced savings plan so they don’t spend it all in December.

Actually it’s rather refreshing not to have the commercialization that surrounds Christmas in the West. Is Christmas really trees with gifts underneath, snow, too many sweets and red and green decorations? There’s nothing wrong with these—in moderation of course. But what is the real meaning? What are we really celebrating? When the trappings are missing, it leads to reflecting on deeper meanings and why we celebrate.

Here’s a picture of our co-workers in our Ag/Trade office. Tinashe works with agriculture and Helena has been working with accounting and is now taking over responsibilities for the chicken-raising businesses. Helena is Mozambican but spent most of her life living in Kenya. For Christmas she is traveling to Kenya to see family she has not seen in six years. It will take her a couple of weeks of travel by air and land to get there.

Speaking of Ag/Trade and Christmas—if you’d like ideas for giving this year, you can see our AfricaWorks giving suggestions by clicking on the “Newsletters” link beside the blog and then “AfricaWorks Brochure.” It’s one way to make a difference in the lives of some Mozambicans.