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Memories of Christmas from the past, what has changed

Going to the butchery has become the order unlike village slaughter. SOURCE: FREEPIK/ MIDJOURNEY

What you need to know:

You remember Christmas in the 1990s and early 2000s. It wasn't just about cutting that Christmas tree and decorating, but everything that went into the process. The shopping, the drastic change in the menu at home.
For instance, parents would start shopping a week after schools break off (that's be- cause schools then used to break off two weeks before Christmas), much of the food needed for that day started coming in early thus changing the menu of half the month.

Every season has its highlights. This is the festive season on the Christian calendar, and everyone is going about bringing out their best Christmas cheer. Going through downtown Kampala, the streets are buzzing with Christmas-related activities. These range from vendors hailing potential customers to checkout their season’s stock while others are wrapping different accessories ranging from Christmas trees, lights, headbands, and Santa suits(or are they pyjamas).

Another group is loading tonnes of foodstuffs, especially rice, gallons of cooking oil and cartons of soap. This year, Christmas falls on Wednesday, and what have you done in advance to ensure all is resonating with the season? Well, I have a different kind of story to tell in line with what this season has become.


The village tailor

This time of year always fills me with nostalgia for my childhood. One memory that still stands out is how, as children, we could always tell Christmas was approaching by the colour and quality of the fabric cutoffs from the local tailor.
In my village, we were fortunate to have the most well-known tailor in the region, a man named Naphtali. He was always busy, but the real difference came in late November and December, when the materials he worked with changed. In the early months of the year, he mostly dealt with khakis and polyester for school uniforms, but come Christmas, it was silk, chiffon, velvet, linen, cotton, and flannel, transforming them into festive finery for the men and women of the village.

Mother and children having fun with sparklers on Christmas day at home. SOURCE: FREEPIK/ DRAZEN ZIGI

These materials told us, those of us who did not have calendars, which Christmas was coming soon. We children loved to collect the cutoffs for our homemade banana fibre dolls. We would sneak around the shop to catch glimpses of who was being fitted for what outfit. We then ran to share the news; who would wear the dotted blue busuti, who would wear the red and black kitenge, spreading the gossip like wildfire. It was a small village, so by Christmas Eve, everyone knew who was wearing what. In those days, it was still common for children to have outfits made from their parents’ leftover fabrics.

The trend of coordinated outfits, like you see today, had yet to catch on.

Night angels with carols

As the big day drew nearer, the excitement grew. We would prepare for the Christmas plays and carol rehearsals. The youth and the creative church elders would work hard to learn their lines and perfect the hymns in a short time, all leading to the magical 24 hours of celebration. On Christmas Eve, the church choir would gather to plan their route for the night of serenading. Armed with hymn books, they would visit each homestead, singing two or more carols for every household. Families would stay up, eagerly awaiting the choir’s arrival, or if they had already gone to bed, someone would listen for their arrival so they could be greeted with a Christ mas song and a small token of appreciation from the head of the household.

While this was meant to be a noble gesture, some of the choir members had other intentions. The cover of night allowed for more than just singing, and it wasn’t uncommon for two members to announce a hasty wedding in February, thanks to the night of Christmas carols. It is possible that some people named Carol were conceived on such nights.

Then came the decorations

Decoration, varied depending on class and taste. Most rural homes would decorate with what was available; banana stems, palm fronds and papyrus. Urban homes, on the other hand,
mixed these natural elements with toilet paper, balloons, sweets and cotton wool. Toilet paper would be cut into decorative shapes and draped over the tree, while cotton wool was stuck on the branches to mimic snow. For many, this was the pinnacle of Christmas décor.

The fine cuts

As for the men, the real excitement came with the slaughtering. Unlike today, where butchers are readily available, back then, one had to slaughter their animal to have meat. This process became an event in itself, accompanied by singing, dancing, and the consumption of alcohol, which, unfortunately led to many a hangover man attending Christmas services the next morning.
Interestingly, the Muslim men in our village also participated in this ritual, as they were required to slaughter animals during this time. In hindsight, I think they must have found it rather frustrating to be involved in this drunken chaos, especially when they were trying to carry out the task with some level of dignity. I remember one butcher in particular, Bruhan, who was extremely temperamental. He had to be bribed with the finest cuts of meat to perform his duties, even though he was always paid for it.

Significance

The communal nature of these activities was what made Christmas so special. Everyone came together, strengthening bonds and nurturing relationships within the village. Christmas Day itself was all about family indulgence; food, drink and entertainment. There were village football matches, amateur drama performances, and visits to family homes to admire decorations, show off new clothes, and enjoy each other’s company. By nightfall, most children, having eaten their fill, would fall asleep early, leaving the adults to let loose and enjoy the evening.

The changing face

Over the years, however, much has changed. Some traditions have evolved, while others have faded away. One of the biggest changes is the level of pageantry. In the past, families competed to show off their outfits; who had the nicest dress, the shiniest shoes—but today, the stakes have been raised to cars, houses, and even holiday destinations.
The affluent now prefer to fly abroad for the holidays, while those who stay behind often do as little as possible, outsourcing tasks such as cleaning and meal preparation to professionals. Why risk getting a manicure ruined when you can hire someone to do it for you?

Singing night carols at people’s homes was a must. PHOTO/FIREFLY-GENERATED
 

Consumerism, lost in frenzy

I have also noticed that Christmas Eve is losing its charm, with Boxing Day taking centre stage. Many families now use Christmas Eve for last-minute shopping or travel, leaving little time for the traditional celebrations. Children today are more likely to look forward to Boxing Day when they finally get to open
the presents that have been taunting them for days. This is a ritual our parents cleverly hid from us, perhaps because they did not want to get swept up in the consumerism of gift-giving. Once you received your dress and shoes that was it. Simple, but enough.


Now, things are very different. One gift is no longer enough. Christmas has become big business, with everyone trying to make a quick buck. Transport fares double, supermarkets start playing Christmas carols as early as December 1, and flashy discounts are advertised to tempt shoppers. The whole thing is now a carefully orchestrated commercial event, and it often feels like the true spirit of the season is getting lost in the frenzy.


Positive change season

However, despite all the changes, one thing remains constant: Christmas still has the potential to bring about positive change in society. Psychologists often talk about the importance of early conditioning; how children learn behaviours through repetition and example. Christmas traditions, which many of us were introduced to at a young age, are a perfect example of this. Even the most miserly husband will open his wallet and buy his wife a dress because he saw his father do the same.

Similarly, the laziest wife will make an extra effort to tidy up and prepare a special meal because that was what she learnt from her upbringing. What if, instead of focusing solely on material gifts, we could use Christmas as an opportunity to instil other values, such as caring for the environment, practising honesty and integrity, paying taxes, or maintaining good hygiene?

If we could introduce our children to these values from a young age, perhaps they would carry them forward into adulthood. Imagine a society where every child grows up with a deep respect for the planet and for each other, where generosity and kindness are as natural as the Christmas rituals we have come to cherish.
As you go about your Christmas activities this year, remember that you are planting seeds for future generations.