South African celebs share their heart-warming Christmas traditions

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

- LUTHO PASIYA ZAMANDOSI CELE KAMOGELO MAKHURA

CELEBRATE the joy of Christmas through the eyes of South Africa's finest and find inspiration for your own festive celebrations.

The Independent Media Lifestyle team connected with these celebrities to discover their distinct Christmas traditions, ranging from moving family get-togethers to one-of-a-kind cultural festivities.

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Q: What is one Christmas tradition you never skip, no matter how busy you are?

A: There is one Christmas tradition I never skip, no matter how busy life becomes, and that is making a Christmas pudding.

It is never just a recipe in my family and is an event rather. One that gathers everyone together and marks the true beginning of the festive season.

I remember being small and arriving at my grandmother's house, where the table would already be laid out with bowls of ingredients waiting patiently. Each grandchild was given a task, whether it was chopping, peeling or grating. In my own home today, I still honour that tradition. We make our pudding at the end of November, giving it time to soak, mature and deepen in flavour. On Christmas morning, we wake up early to share the first slice. It is rich, comforting and filled with nostalgia and a reminder that some traditions are worth holding onto, year after year.

Q: How did your family celebrate Christmas while you were growing up, and do you still carry those traditions today?

A: On the first of December, the decorations would come out, instantly igniting our excitement for the season ahead. A large Christmas tree would go up in the lounge, and decorating it was a family affair.

My sister and I would inevitably argue over who got to place the star on top. It was a small moment that felt incredibly important at the time. Christmas lunch was always held at my grandmother's house and never strayed from the classics.