This is a typical Christmas tree in Ghana.
It doesn’t look much
different than those we have here in Othello …
other than the palm tree
outside the window!
Geseënde Kersfees
This week, we are going to look at Christmas in Ghana because that’s where Othello's sister city Wulensi is.
December is the start of the cocoa harvest in Ghana. That country is the world’s second largest cocoa producer.
Can you imagine the holidays without chocolate? Kind of scary!
People in Ghana celebrate Christmas from the Dec. 20 to the first week in January with lots of different activities. Many travel to visit relatives and friends in other parts of the country.
Over 66 languages are spoken in Ghana and all these groups have their own traditions and customs. Sounds kind of like the U.S.
Christmas Eve is the time when the celebrations really start with church services that have drumming and dancing. Children often put on a nativity play or other drama. Then, choirs come out to sing and people dance in front of the priests. Songs are sung in the languages the people understand best.
Sometimes, these services and dancing go on all night.
Other people celebrate with fireworks and parties.
On Christmas day, churches are very full. People dress in their colorful traditional clothes and after the service, they quickly go back to their houses to start giving and receiving gifts.
As in most Christian cultures, celebrating Christmas dinner with friends and family tops the list. Families enjoy braais (barbecues) or traditional dinners with paper hats, mince pies, turkey and plum pudding.
In Ghana, Christmas dinner isn’t complete without fufu and okra soup. This is an easy recipe for this dish, followed by a more traditional one for the okra soup.
Fufu
2-1/2 cups biscuit mix
2-1/2 cups instant potato flakes
1. Bring 1-1/3 cups water to a rapid boil in a large, heavy pot. Combine and two ingredients and add to the water.
2. Stir constantly for 10 to 15 minutes, a process that needs two people for the best results – one to hold the pot while the other stirs vigorously with a strong implement, such as a thick wooden spoon. The mixture will become very thick and difficult to stir, but unless you are both vigilant and energetic, you’ll get a lumpy mess.
3. When the fufu is ready (or you’ve stirred to the limits of your endurance), dump about a cup of the mixture into a wet bowl and shake until it forms itself into a smooth ball. Serve on a large platter alongside the soup.
Okra soup
2 pounds beef and mutton
2 quarts water
2 tablespoons salt
3 large ripe tomatoes
2 dozen okras, finely cut up
1 onion, chopped
1/4 cabbage, cut up
2 tablespoons cooking oil
Pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon thyme
2 tablespoons flour
1 stalk celery, cut up
1. Boil meats and cabbage until tender.
2. Heat cooking oil in frying pan. Add flour and allow to brown. Add okras, onion, celery and tomatoes. Continue to cook for about five minutes on low heat. Pour the mixture onto the boiled meats.
3. Add thyme, salt and pepper and boil for an additional 15 minutes.
4. Corn, carrots, potatoes or other vegetables may be added, but they must boil in the soup until done.
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