December In South Africa

December in S.A. is unlike any other month in the year - it’s major holiday time. It’s the end of the school year and the longest holiday for the schools – they are closed from about the first week in the month till about the second week in January. Most of the factories and many businesses also close for about three weeks over this time.

Although it’s holiday time, December is an extra-busy month somehow! Of course, Christmas and New Year also fall during this period so it’s really a festive month and the shops are packed with people buying Christmas and end-of-the-year gifts. Just don’t expect much service over this time because even though some businesses don’t close except over the public holidays, everyone is in this “relaxed mood” and not much work gets done, or else it gets done very slowly! The shops are usually short-staffed as well and long queues are just something you have to put up.

Fairs pop up all over and it’s a season for parties, parties and more parties all together with excessive eating and drinking. It’s also a time for loads of baking, mainly for Christmas but also for all the extra visitors – it’s a major visiting time!
Lots people go away on holiday, especially to the coast and every place is jam-packed! Unfortunately the bad crime in the country gets even worse over this month.

December is also mid-Summer here so it’s usually very hot. Many people still celebrate Christmas the European way and in the heat, all the preperations for the traditional meal, all the hours spent over hot stoves and the heavy food makes it quite a trial for the cooks! :P

Our family, well at least, my parents, Rachel and I and our one uncle and aunt and their children don’t celebrate Christmas. The busy-ness and chaos makes December our least favourite month but there are some things we enjoy over this time. Dad usually gets to take some leave and it’s lovely having him home with us. Our church usually has a convention over the Christmas week as then most people are able to attend the special service. The meetings are always a blessing and we also have wonderful fellowship! Another nice thing is that we get to visit with family and friends a lot more than usual. :)