I suppose it was inevitable, but the Christmas decorations are now up in the shopping malls. And while I am getting used to the fact that Christmas occurs in summer down here, I cannot figure out why all the Christmas decorations are Northern Hemisphere-themed. Pine trees, snow and sleds next to swim costume displays and sunblock just doesn't compute for me. And even the Christmas songs all seem to relate to cold weather.Why can't Santa fly in a sleigh pulled by springboks? Why can't we decorate acacia thorn trees? And why can't we dream of sunny hot Christmases that involve chestnuts roasting on an open braai and sunburns nipping at my nose? I think it's time for someone to invent Southern Hemisphere-themed Christmas decorations and songs (which, incidentally, have nothing to do with the birth of Christ. Shows you how much our culture and location affect our view of the event).
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When we lived in Lesotho, we were discussing Christmas with one of our Basotho friends and he finally asked us the meaning of "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" - he took it to mean that he would be dreaming of a white man's Christmas, and he just couldn't understand why anyone would want to do that. He liked his Christmas, why would he want a "white" Christmas. It put a whole different spin on the song for us.
Oh my, that certainly *does* put a different spin on the song!
How long were you in Lesotho? We spent one Christmas there two years ago. It was beautiful!
Annie, you should ask Daleen for the set of rewritten Christmas carols we composed one year. There was "Acacia Tree," "Desmond the Hornless Kudu," and instead of "Let it Snow," we had one entitled "Let's Stay Here," about relaxing by the pool. I have a feeling you would enjoy them immensely.
I will definitely have to ask her, Barbara. I think you should publish those!
Our last Christmastree in SA was an iron one [hubby made it] decorated with all sorts of dried seeds from other trees which we collected - go to the Botanical Gardens in Pretoria - plenty of trees with seeds [or just up and down the roads :) ]
What a cool idea! We do have one jacaranda seed pod, but it would be fun to collect others. Thanks for the idea!
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