Celebration

Just like in Canada, Christmas in my country is celebrated on the 25th of December. To some people, Christmas celebration starts from the first of December till 31st of December while engaging in several activities to entertain themselves and their families or friends throughout the month.

Unlike Canada where people go to buy trees to decorate them with lights and put toys and gifts under the tree, in Ghana, we do buy Christmas lights and hang them around our door posts, lawns or gardens to beautify outside areas and also to inform other who pass by to know that Christmas in being celebrated in your home.

Another important difference is that “White Christmas” doesn’t exist in my country because we don’t have the snow, and neither are we able to partake in activities that involve the snow like how it happens in Canada. As for my country, which is very hot during such a time in the year, festive concerts, sunny outdoor feasts and Christmas street parades are held. Another small difference is that Canada calls the big bellied man with a long white beard Santa Claus while in Ghana he is called Father Christmas. His activities aren’t different but his name is what differs between these two countries.

On the 26th December back in the days when I was young, boxing matches were organised between some opponents just to entertain the people, but in Canada people watch NBA or NFL matches, watch Christmas movies or go to the malls to shop. In Ghana, there aren’t really any big sales during such a festive season. People tend to increase the prices on items in their shops as this is the best time of the year to make money.

To sum up, in both countries, 25th of December is used to attend a special morning Church service, where the birth of Jesus Christ is spoken about and a Christmas carols are sung and heard throughout the whole Church. After Church, not everyone goes back home because in Ghana, some people pass up a chance to gather in family home in order to dine out in restaurants or a lounge with family and friends just to eat and drink together. Some even prefer to get married for Christmas because everyone will have an extra Merry Christmas.