In Tanzania, Christmas Day, which falls on December 25th each year, is a public holiday celebrated widely across the country by Christians. The holiday commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ and is an occasion for family reunions, feasts, gift-giving and attending church services. Tanzanians prepare for Christmas by cleaning and decorating their homes. Christmas trees, however, are not as popular due to the scarcity of fir and pine trees.
On Christmas Day, Tanzanians typically cook a special meal to share with their family and friends. The cuisine includes traditional Tanzanian foods such as ugali (maize meal), nyama choma (barbecued meat), pilau (spiced rice) and chapati (flatbread). Sharing a meal is considered a symbol of unity and it's a time when all family disputes are set aside. Singing, dancing and playing games are also important elements of the Christmas celebrations.
Tanzanians attend church on Christmas Day, where special services are held. Christmas carols are sung and nativity plays are often performed by the younger members of the congregation. After church, families often visit relatives and neighbours to share their festive blessings and continue the celebration. While Christmas in Tanzania may lack some of the commercial trappings seen in other parts of the world, the emphasis on family, community and goodwill makes it a special time for Tanzanians.