About the two faces of Christmas

Imelda Nakidde, a nurse in Masaka District, started Christmas preparations a month ago. It started with looking out for the best bunch of bananas from her plantation, and collecting a heap of firewood to take her through the festive season and saving water in her water tank for the D-day.
She believes collecting water from the well on Christmas is hectic, especially when the queue is so long as she could miss going for prayers.

Communal prep
Nakidde says in her village, a Christmas menu without matooke and meat is nothing worth a celebration. “Those without banana plantations start booking matooke from their friends’ plantations as early as November,” she says, adding that preparing for Christmas is a communal affair in the village and Christmas Eve will see friends gather to divide chores such as peeling matooke, cutting banana leaves, and sorting rice. “Those with children and grandchildren of age will mobilise them to fetch water and fill all the jerrycans and water tanks, if any.
Parents whose children are in the urban areas or overseas anxiously tell their friends about how their children will come over to celebrate the big day with them.

As a norm, when Nakidde’s children come for Christmas, they go around the neighborhood greeting her friends and their old friends. “At times they carry groceries such as bread and sugar for our neighbours,” she explains.

Visitation
Suzan Nassazi, a mother of five, says the sound of Christmas brings joy to many with hopes of seeing their relatives from town and sometimes those from overseas come to celebrate the day in the village.
“Unlike in urban areas where people are exposed and seem to have almost everything, in the village, Christmas brings beautiful expectations for both young and adults,” Nassazi says.

For many, the festive season also means expecting their relatives to pay them a visit and join in the celebrations. “Hoping each one of them buys you something new, some of the guests like to ask about the different people they grew up with. Before long, the night will have gone by,” she shares.
Christmas in the village seems to last a couple of days, enough for people to relieve themselves of stress, such as those who would have come from town, breathe cleaner air and stay away from town noise.

Sharing food
Daniel Kasibante, an accountant, travels to his village in Rakai District every December 22 and says Christmas in the village is about sharing. “Homes share food and drinks. Children from far and near go down the hills with baskets of food such as steamed matooke, fried chicken, and beef. You could even fail to have your own meal at home because of the abundance from your neighbours,” Kasibante says.
After meals, the young and old are at liberty to relax, though with restrictions for the young ones.
However, Kasibante says at times holding Christmas celebrations in the village is a bit expensive, right from transport to hosting guests from the time you arrive until departure.
“Carrying something to give to them is what saves the day,” he laughs.

Shopping
In town, Gloria Mwogezi, a businesswoman, says many will not feel the Christmas vibe until D- day, when you remember to prepare.
“Doing lots of shopping follows and before you know it, you have missed out on church activities with all the cooking and organising for the family involved,” Mwogezi reveals.

Not as open
Unlike in the village where Christmas comes with new expectations every year, Mwogezi thinks there is nothing much to expect from Christmas celebrations around town. “Sharing with neighbours is almost non-existent, people are almost confined to their homes and it is a for God and my family style,” she reveals.

Christmas tree and praying in advance
Mwogezi works up to December 24, and does her shopping on Christmas morning with less people in the market. She says the children take care of the Christmas tree which is normally kept under their bed.
Because of the overwhelming congregation at her church on Christmas, Mwogezi goes for prayers on Christmas Eve.
For Brian Lugali, a photographer, apart from the Christmas music of Philly Bongoley Lutaaya playing everywhere on Kampala streets Christmas in town is a day like any other. “It does not feel special anymore except the young,” Lugali explains.

Most businesspeople keep to their work only to retire at midday to join the rest of the family on Christmas.
“It only feels Christmas at night, when people start flocking hangouts and bars,” says Lugali.
Christmas is a time to celebrate but most people seem to prefer the village style because of the activities that are inclined to togetherness and feasting.

Parent tradition
Doreen Mirembe, a film producer and a mother of three, says Christmas preparation revolves around children who she thinks need to understand the meaning of Christmas. She says by November 2, the Christmas tree is ready for decoration. Children love the tree and often take part in hanging sweets and putting the lights.
“I wrap gifts for each one of them to put around the Christmas tree. However, if one of them did not perform well then they are most likely to miss gifts,” Mirembe says.
From the time the Christmas tree is put up, they play Christmas music every morning, each reads and tells Christmas stories every evening. As a custom, Mirembe wakes up earlier to bake cookies, cakes or make chapattis for her family.