Monday, December 24, 2007

Happy Holidays!

Its that time of year, again.

Christmas. Turkey dinners, shiny wrapping paper, mistletoes, egg nog, mulled wine, crazy shoppers, unscrupulous drunken party behaviour and fancy dress parties. And of course, family.


I’m going to have to admit it is really hard for me to believe that it’s Christmas. The subtle changes of seasons don’t provide a constant time check that says ‘ Its getting cold, leaves are falling, rain is falling, snow is falling, ready…..ready… its CHRISTMAS!’ I mean, just last week, I was out motoring around in the muddy fields, talking to farmers not about Christmas, but about how much rain will come and what the harvest will be like this year. And our public space isn't invaded with Christmas decorations. Take a look at what the main drag of LusakaCairo Rd—looks like, today, on Christmas Eve, just like every other day.


This isn’t the first time I’m going to be spending Christmas away from home and in Africa. In 2003, I was in Ghana and I’ve observed about Christmas there is similar to what I am observing here. And that is, that Christmas isn’t IN YOUR FACE. There aren’t public Christmas trees, no lights, few decorations. Reminders of Christmas are usually a lot more subtle and usually unexpected. For example, last weekend, I was packed into a mini bus. The person’s phone in-front of me rang as many often do; but this time, instead of 50 cent filling the air, there was another familiar tune. It took me a few seconds to realise that it was ‘ We wish you a Merry Christmas’. And then on Tuesday, it was down pouring and I stepped into a store to escape the rain only to have another oddly familiar tune playing in the background – ‘have a holly jolly Christmas’. To my ears, the harmony and beats of Christmas carols just don’t fit with the beats and melodic sounds of traditional African music. There are fake plastic Christmas trees in cluttered in a few store windows and it’s a bit odd because you never see these trees growing naturally around here, and really, trees? Inside? There was an old blow up Santa Claus doll hanging from a thatch roof hut I saw last week in Monze. Santa? In Zambia? A fat old white bearded man in a red and white suite? SHU-AH! ( as in ‘Sure!?!?’ as in REALLY?!) Usually, when I think of all of these western symbols of Christmas, I can’t help but feel like it is a phony way of celebrating, and how it is a testament to western culture that really doesn’t fit into local context.


And today, being Christmas eve, I was out on the town and came across a sight that seems to symbolize what I'm trying to say.


Consider exibit A. Zambian Santa.


I know that this is Zambian Santa, because notice the nice booty.


Exhibit B. notice the gum boots (its rainy season) and face mask ( masks, are hot items).


And then, Santa here, has a whole other persona.


I mean, sure, there isn't a 'HO HO HO' but this Santa has a street style all his own. I don’t know what I enjoy more, his high pitched screech, his ‘HELLO!HOW IS ZAMBIA?', or the fact that he has completely blow apart any childhood image of a nice old Santa, sitting in a mall, bells ringing in the background, nice instrumental 'silent night, or the fact that instead of riding around in a sleigh and upholding an image of gentleness and care, he’s scurrying around Lusaka accosting people. *sigh*. Randomness. I love it.

But really, besides today's randomness, overall, Christmas here is a pretty low-key event. You can walk down any street and there isn’t much that will remind you that it is Christmas. Most households just use the time for family, go to church and if there is extra money, cook special meal. And I think that I kind of like the low-key nature. I used to think that I enjoyed this mostly because I’m kind of afraid ( yes, I think afraid is the right word) of the consumerism that overtakes our communities back home during this time of year. That maybe I was happy that there wasn't a lot of western influence (yet) on this holiday. But yesterday, it kind of hit me that I realised that I kind of like the low key nature of all of this because it means there are fewer reminders that I am going to be away from family.

My family isn’t religious in the traditional sense. Actually, what am I talking about? We’re not even religious in the non-traditional sense! I think that we can count the total times anyone has ever gone to church on one, maybe two hands. Christmas for us has been much more about family getting together and with my brothers and I dispersed across the country (and world) these days, the holidays has been much more about that. It is a time for us to spend time together, catch each other up with our lives, make fun of each other, cook feasts, regress back to childhood tendencies (this includes my mother of course) and remind my dad that yes, he just may be more of a circus ringmaster than head of the household. And now that we’ve got little ones in the midst, I’m sure that it will only add to our barnyard antics. Holidays really, is a time where I always remember how lucky I am to have such characters in my family, and how truly special I am as a sister, and a daughter.

I’m going to miss my family – mom, dad, mel, KH, wild man, KY, Janice, jada, KK, becca and of course, dear little izzy. A lot. I’ll be thinking about all of you from this side of the world ( yes, as I take a 2 day train ride out to the coast and Zanzibar).

Have a safe and wonderful holiday everyone and hope that 2008 will be the best one yet.

4 comments:

KK said...

Merry Christmas! Have you done all your shopping yet? Apparently the big news item about Christmas is the average amount of money that people are spending on gifts this year is $750. So you better get crackin'.

Great to see you yesterday, it's been a long time. We're missing you so much but we know you'll be back soon. Safe travels and don't sleep on the beach.

Smooches, Sahm Goh Jai, Sahm Sum and Yun Yun.

happydream said...

Hello dear daughter:
Thanks for your time to write this blog to us. Then we may know about the Christmas in Zambia.
when I was in China. I never had any celebrate for Christmas.Because China government didn't allow any religion in the country.When I was in HongKong.I was teaching for a YWCA school. Then I started to join the Christmas celebration. When I came to Canada. Christmas holiday became to family day.Many memories with happiness keep in my life......
Today, This holiday still very meaning for me. Because our family members are still together. Whatever our gypsy family is living in Vancouver, Kingston, Wallaceburg and Africa.....But our hearts always together......
Ka Hay, I know that you are a very emotional girl. On this holiday you are far far away from us. You are missing us. I am very missing you too. Oh My tear......
Hope you come home soon.A boat knock about the world, some day will be parked to the homeland's dock.
Today is New year Eve. Hope you have good time be there and goo luck for 2008.

Love. MAMAMIA

kahung said...

So.

I hear that no one robbed you while you were sleeping on a beach in Zanzibar.

Nice.

And that Santa in your video? I laughed and laughed...and then I got creeped out.

I mean, what kinda big-assed Santa run around town, with a mask on, and especially around a bank on Cairo Street?

Here in NA, they'd arrest him because someone would think he was a terrorist, or something paranoid like that.

Sigh.

Nice to get the txt's from you. Happy New Year...and take it easy on your new skin. You should know by now....even Asians get burned.

K

Vick said...

Hey KH,
When you write your book, will you sign my copy?
Just so you know, you will write a book.

Stay happy (and safe, too).

V
PS: victrell@hotmail.com