And so this is Christmas

“And so this is Christmas…..”

“’Twas the night before Christmas

And all through the house

Not a creature was stirring

Not even a gecko.”

In Zebilla, the night before Christmas was extremely lively: the pito bars (locally brewed alcoholic temptation) buzzed, the Spot bars throbbed with popular  African music and the churches hummed and swayed as congregations praised and danced away the hours up till midnight.

It was reported that some Muslim families enjoyed a good old Christmas Carol singalong too.

Typical Spot- blessings sought for drinking.

On Christmas Day, it was business as usual, being a market day. (Every third day is market day.) Trading means families have money for food and other essentials. It means the majority of inhabitants, lacking food storage facilities and quantities of cash we are familiar with, can buy daily needs plus the extras only available every third day. Children called at our house, wearing the same clothes they wore the day before. Donkey carts passed by the kitchen window, laden with produce or firewood. A token offering of fruit punch was served to any caller, and received with huge thanks.

The donkey cart is a main mode of transport for heavy goods.(web image- Christian Aid)

In contrast, our modest pile of gifts to each other- locally sewn fabric items, small hand stitched Christmas stocking s with sweets (thank you, Fiona for the craft kit), posted out Christmas tat, chocolates (in interesting melted and re-formed shapes) dried herbs, tea and coffee- seemed luxurious to the point of embarrassment.  Our sun dresses and T shirts, the shared breakfast pancakes with fresh pineapple and banana, jarred oddly against tinsel garlands and the banner:- “Ho ho ho, Let it snow.” (thank you, Carol)

The important highlight of the day was calling my daughters, Rosie and Clare, at home- part of a system of emailing and phoning as many family and friends as possible, to make up for being so far away and missing everyone.

And then…. Party time, and celebrating VSO volunteer style:- meaning a collected effort to include all who wanted to, including Pot Luck buffet, Secret Santa ( star prizes- alcohol miniatures, chocolates, booby prize- anti-snoring device, comedy prizes- tea to boost the flagging libido, studded condoms (!)), Azonto competition and post- eating snoozy chatting.

VSO Christmas Party- Bolga 2012- Revelers show off Secret Santa gifts

PS- As I send this blog posting in early January, parcels from home laden with tinsel, Christmas tat, gifts and cards continue to arrive, singly.