The coming of the New Year is always associated with the beginning of a new cycle, a new life, new ideas. This is felt by every person on our planet, but most clearly all this manifests itself against the background of traditions that are still inextricably linked with nature. Such a phenomenon can be found in Africa, in the cradle of our humanity. How is New Year celebrated in Africa and how is their celebration different from ours? What traditions are honored by the inhabitants of various countries of the "black continent"? What is the reason for their New Year? For these and many other questions, read the answers below.
How did this holiday come here?
The very first New Year script in Africa appeared in Ancient Egypt. It was here that they created the world's first calendar, which allowed people to calculate time not only for hours, but also for months. The New Year fell at the end of September, when the Nile spilled and flooded the adjacent shores. On this day a boat was lowered into its waters. Statues of the god Amon, his wife Mut and son Khonsu were placed in it. The boat plowed the expanses of the river for a month, and after the statue they returned to their temples again. In the remaining tribes of Africa, which did not have a political system, for a long time no one celebrated the arrival of the new year. After this continent was turned into a European colony, European traditions also migrated here. Therefore, now the New Year is celebrated in African countries on January 1, and traditions have much in common with the Catholic.
What is characteristic of modern rites
Before telling in detail about how the New Year is celebrated in Africa, we will consider some aspects of the life of the people of this continent. Most of the populated territory is below the poverty line, so you can’t especially walk around here. In addition, men most often live in cities while earning money, while women with children remain in the villages. On New Year's Eve, families always reunite. Men bring home generous gifts, jewelry. Children decorate the house, decorate palm trees, juniper bushes, other plants (approximately like we are Christmas trees). A feast and a feast are arranged, where various meat delicacies act as main dishes, and home-made hops beer as the main drink. The fact is that champagne, which is sold here only in the capitals, has no money from local residents.
Tanzania and Kenya: features of the celebration
These countries celebrate the most standard by world standards and familiar to us New Year in Africa. The traditions of the New Year celebration here are almost entirely borrowed from the Christian world. That is, the celebration takes place on January 1, many residents go to churches for the Christmas holidays (since many Catholics and even Orthodox live here). The difference is that it is not the Christmas trees that dress up here, but tropical plants, mainly palm trees. In addition, during the calendar winter, the highest temperature indicators are observed here. Therefore, in the New Year, people swim in the ocean, windsurf.
Features of the celebration in South Africa
This country is considered the richest and most developed on the whole continent. But, whatever one may say, richly all the same, only tourists and visitors live here. How is New Year celebrated in Africa, where there is such inequality between races? The main tradition on January 1 in South Africa is considered charity. The indigenous people of the country and government representatives take to the central streets of the cities. They give gifts to all those in need and arrange a celebration at their own expense.
West Africa and its tribal customs
In the western part of the continent you can see the most unusual New Year in Africa. The traditions here have their roots in the past millennia, and they are as follows. For example, locals race on all fours with an egg in their mouth. It is important not to break or bite it, nor to damage the shell. After that, ritual dances begin around the bonfire, where the tribal leaders use themselves with special knives. But their wounds are immediately healed thanks to ointments made on the basis of local plants.
The newest traditions
We briefly examined how the New Year is celebrated in Africa, and how the traditions of local peoples are intertwined with European customs. Now we learn what New Year's holiday is traditional for all representatives of the “black diaspora” in the world. This, of course, is Kwanza, which lasts from December 26 to January 1. In these seven days, seven candles are lit every night - one black, three green and three red. In their light, virtues and past rites are discussed that allow Africans to maintain their identity.