Traditions people observe on Christmas day

 

Christmas holiday is a time when people leave everything else to be with their families.

Houses and churches are often decorated with colorful balloons, ribbons, paper decorations and flowers.

People buy and put Christmas trees on their houses while others will have a Cyprus tree decorated with balloons.

As a tradition most people travel up country to celebrate Christmas with parents and extended relatives.

However, for Simon Wafula who resides at Kasarani and comes from Kakamega, things are different.

Wafula prefers that his parents come to Nairobi for the holidays because during that time, most people are away from the city.

"I hate the hassle that comes with travelling home. I always want my family to be in Nairobi because it's a change of environment for them," he said.

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"I don't get why people travel to rural homes. Your family at home need a change of place even if it is for a day."

Wafula is among the few people who host their families in Nairobi during holidays.

He said they go to parks in the city and visit other tourist attractions.

Wafula added that the family gets to learn and at the same time they enjoy.

Grace Mueni who hails from Machakos but works in Nairobi, travels home every Christmas.

She said they have specific traditions that they observe on Christmas day.

"I must travel home to my parents. For our family, Christmas is a very big deal. We go to Church and we sing Christmas carols at home as a family afterwards," Mueni said.

"In the evening we do a family gathering to discuss on the resolutions we made the previous year and set new ones."

She said they make resolutions on Christmas day because they believe it is a blessed day and if they commit on that day, they will meet the resolutions.

Most people prepare varieties of food to be eaten on Christmas day.

For most people chicken is one of the dishes that never misses in an African home on Christmas day.

Most families eat together and go out to refresh in a joint or a park.

For Ann Njoki, her tradition is quite different. She does not go out of the house on holidays.

"I prefer my holiday indoors. My parents celebrate at home while I celebrate mine in my house. As much as I cherish Christmas I don't see the need to travel," she said.

Njoki said it is only on Christmas day and new year that she is given an entire day off so she prefers to stay indoors.    BY THE STAR