Cumbria is home to over 70 languages and more than 15 different ethnicities. Christmas is celebrated by the majority of people in the county, and whilst many will be enjoying a traditional turkey feast, Christmas doesn’t look the same for everyone who lives here. Here Anti Racist Cumbria share a small selection of Cumbrian Christmases, to highlight and educate about different Christmases but also to point out the similarities that exist too – family and friendship, lots of food and for most, a bit to drink too!
Merry Christmas from us all at Anti Racist Cumbria
From Kenya to Kendal
Penny is Kenyan, she lives and works in Kendal with her family. Here we learn about Christmas in both places.
In Kenya this is a day like no other, all the roads lead to “ushago” that’s the Kenyan name for upcountry. Big and small transport inflate fares as they know people will travel come rain come shine. Families who have not seen their folks the whole year descend upcountry with gifts. The best preparations before the actual day is on Christmas Eve just prepping all the ingredients together telling stories for the next day then going for the midnight mass. We make chapatis, peel onions, potatoes and put out cutlery ready and clean. Preparations are different in different parts of Kenya as Kenya has 52 tribes. This is how we celebrate in our home at Ukambani.
Chapatis are usually made the day before as they take time. Mandazis (a semi sweet traditional doughnut) are made as snacks for people to pick as they wait for the main Christmas meal during the day, especially children who can’t wait! (This all depends on where you come from in Kenya) Oh, and they are fabulous with a gingery cup of tea!!
Christmas Day!
This is a very special day. People dress in their Sunday best and attend the Christmas service, there is dancing and singing and it’s the most amazing day, seeing all those brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties and neighbours you have not seen for a long time!! The children perform nativity plays and this where people who go to church once a year show up!
Meanwhile back home, we have some young men and (wise ones) slaughtering the fattened goat and cutting up stewing pieces for the women to make goat pilaf after church. The men prepare the goat ribs and roast them, bringing them into the kitchen for the women, the goat head is prepped for slow cooking and is usually eaten the next day in the morning at breakfast! It’s shared by everyone.
Left is the “Nyama choma”, roast goat meat. Depending on where you come from in Kenya, you eat it with different accompaniments, a must accompaniment is “Kachumbari” made of tomatoes, onions, chillies and lemon, a favourite of most homes. It is usually made like a salad.
Right is the goat pilaf with coriander leaves, it can also be made with beef or chicken.
After the main meal which is usually eaten around 3pm, it’s time for drinks and party. Clubs in Kenya do not close, they open 24/7 as well as taxis if you do not have a car. Grandparents play a very important part on this very night; they come to the rescue and babysit while we go out! It’s so good when you have no worries and children bonding with “Susu and Umau” that is grandma and grandpa in Kamba. These celebrations go on till the New Year when people go back to the city and back to work!
Adjusting to Christmas in the UK when I arrived in October 2002 was very hard, it was a culture shock, seeing snow for the first time and having no public transport and all shops closed! That never happens in Kenya! We are open 24/7, that’s a money-making season, however having everything shut means people spend time with their families. Here, every Christmas Eve I go for midnight mass and in the morning, we go to church with my family, that is something that has never changed. I still prepare my food ingredients the night before which makes it easier after church.
When first arrived in England I was staying with a lovely family who welcomed me warmly in their home. They were interested to know about my culture. On Christmas morning when I came downstairs, I found three piles of wrapped presents, on a settee, under the Christmas tree and in the middle of the lounge, I was shocked to hear that all the presents on the large settee were for one child, I did not understand why one child needed all those presents. I came to know that presents come from different members of their family. That is different from our kind of Christmas back home, we enjoy the family get together and tearing into those goat ribs with kachumbari and therefore no pressure to shop for everyone in the family, though many people bring presents for their parents.
People play African drums and dance to the music which could be in different parts in the village and people go to join.
In my opinion eating turkey is an acquired taste, I season it with lots spices and that makes it better for me. Every year I try cooking different parts, the breast or the leg stuffed with sausage meat or wrapped with streaky bacon, but it does not get easier when my brother calls me and shows me the celebrations from home and the nyama choma being passed around with people dancing to African music. I enjoy my beef rib roast though; I think it is the closest to nyama choma, and I love brussels sprouts, the little cabbages! Wow! With technology now I can speak on video with every member of the family, but the hardest part is still not being there. The Christmas pudding, first time I ate it I embarrassed myself, I had never eaten anything so sweet! I still can’t eat it but I can settle for chocolate logs with ice cream anytime.
I WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Thank you Penny we wish you and your family a Merry Christmas too!.
Filipino Festivities
The Flores Family are Filipino and live in South Lakes
We usually go to church in the morning (Our Lady of Windermere & St. Herbert) – it’s important to us remember why we celebrate Christmas! We open gifts when we get home, then we have lunch, which consists of Filipino dishes, rice, noodles, spring rolls and desert. Turkey isn’t essential (I know, sorry!) we usually have a ‘buffet’ style lunch and dinner.
In the afternoon/ evening, we usually meet with other Filipino families. We exchange gifts, play games, watch a film, sing karaoke and eat more food of course. It’s nice to spend Christmas with other Filipinos in Windermere, especially because most of our relatives live in the Philippines.
- Palabok
- Grilled chicken and pancit
- Ube (purple yam) ice cream in bun
- Ube pandesal (bread)
There are lots of great recipes on this website www.panlasangpinoy.com
Christmas Cracker
Tim Farron MP – Tim is MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale and is a practising Christian.
I’m a Christian but my Christmas Day isn’t particularly ‘religious’ though I will be at church the Sunday either side. I think it’s important that we remember that a child born into a humble background who grew up to hold no office, lead no army, and own no property ended up being the single most significant and influential person who ever lived. I believe that person’s birth must be worth celebrating, and their life worth investigating, so Christmas is a special time for me from a faith perspective. But it’s also a time for family, and on Christmas Day itself I enjoy time spent with them, a decent run, watching Home Alone, the Father Ted Christmas special, eating and drinking too much – getting the run in first to justify it of course!
Blended Family Celebrations
From South Africa to South Cumbria – meet one of our very own Anti Racist Cumbria members Zainab and her family.
I am South African, my husband is Cumbrian and so our Christmas is truly a tale of 2 continents. For me Christmas was a day on the beach or a braai (bbq) with friends and family, and for my husband, a very traditional British affair with all the trimmings. We have had to blend two worlds, but it makes for a wonderful celebration of both our different cultures and a feast for the taste buds! We mix a lovely South African breakfast filled with plenty of spice then move to the in-laws and enjoy a very English celebration. For our kids, this is completely normal, as it should be. It’s taken 14 years but I am finally climatized to the December cold and accept that there is no beach picnic. The common denominator – family and love regardless of religion or race.
