What inspires the Christmas feast?

Yvonne Ncube, Showbiz Reporter
THE echoes of jingle bells can be heard from a distance yet they are so near.

It’s that time of the year again when families gather to celebrate, enjoy, and dine in honour of the annual festival commemorating the birth of Christ.

Shops are beginning to stock icicles, stars, globes, bows, Christmas trees and a variety of other novelty lights.

Excellent selections also entice customers who are preparing for the most memorable holiday of the year.

Every family has their own customs for this day with each one thriving to have something special, something that would last for years and that everyone in the family would enjoy.

Other Christmas practices are inherited and passed down through generations. These customs are kept a closely guarded secret, and it is ensured that they will never die.

When new family members are brought into the fold, they are taught these customs at a young age so that they can grow up with them.

Some families hide gifts on Christmas Day and provide clues as to where the owner might find them; others wear matching Christmas pyjamas for the entire family on Christmas Eve; and still others send their children shopping to buy gifts for one another.

Many traditions exist, but one that has persisted in every family is the Christmas feast.

But what inspires the Christmas feast?

This supper can be served at any time between the evening of Christmas Eve and the evening of Christmas Day. The meals are sometimes quite filling and substantial.

Families go to great lengths to outdo one another in preparing this feast, which is held in high regard every year.

A wide range of food options are offered in a stylish manner, to go along with well-dressed people who will most likely be wearing new apparel.

Restaurants and food outlets have seized this opportunity to cater to people who want to dine out by serving the “traditional” style of cuisine for this occasion.

For some reason, the must haves in the meal menu for this day are chicken or turkey. You can never miss them there.

Desserts in choices are also offered. For Christmas, things change in the kitchen and new recipes are introduced too.

This global practice has turned to be very significant in people’s lives for over decades.

Chronicle Showbiz took to the streets to find out from local residents the inspiration behind the Christmas feast.

“The Christmas feast is a must, not to miss out on. I’d rather sacrifice or budget for this meal before Christmas and it’s a culture that I’ve taught my children. They grew up knowing that Christmas is a day to celebrate hence there should be a feast.

“Mostly the feast consists of a variety of choices and the last meal in the obsolete year was eight colours. I’m hoping to do more this year.

“My family feasts on this day because it’s the day that we come together as a family. And this is not only a nucleus family thing, it involves the extended family and close friends as well. This is why we go to extremes and outdo ourselves in order to serve not just a decent meal, but a standard one,” said Alianna Mathe from Khumalo.

One Bruce Ndlovu said he does not know the reason behind the practice but he has been doing it all his life.

“Personally, I don’t know who came up with this idea that people should make a feast on Christmas, but it’s good because it brings the family together. One thing that I’ve realised is that when there’s good food, everyone is happy.

We all take a break from what’s bothering us and dedicate the day to food.

“It’s a good practice to ease stress or at least, to say goodbye to a year. And it’s so amazing that the joy established from good food overlaps to the days ahead. So, for me, the Christmas feast is for relief because I find comfort in food.”

Ndlovu said he inherited the Christmas feast tradition from his parents.

“Growing up in the rural areas, we didn’t have much, but our parents made it a point that every Christmas, they’d dedicate a turkey for the occasion. My father would come from Bulawayo with new clothes while my mother makes sure to cook the best meal of the year. The meal would basically consist of rice, turkey, potato salad, coleslaw, fat cookies, and drinks.

“That’s why I have passed it on to my children because it is a beautiful practice,” said Ndlovu.

When it comes to food, one cannot go wrong with the famous seven colours.

This was a sentiment echoed by Nomalanga Ndlovu who went all out, even describing how one prepares the sumptuous meal.

“What can Christmas be without my Rice/Spaghetti/Macaroni, Beetroot, Coleslaw salad, Butternut, Soup, Potato salad/potato wedges? With these, we can safely say that we’ve celebrated Christmas and this is a time of unbridled merriment for the family.”

Complementary to what people were saying about the gastronomic goodies that they feast on and fine beverages cascading down their throats, one jovial lad clad in All-star shoes brought out that one thing that makes the festive season tick. The eighth colour to the food, music.

Nqobile Ndlovu alluded to Christmas being a drab without music. If ever there is a time where decibels reach deafening levels, it’s the festive season.

“Christmas has changed over the years especially with us eating what we eat daily so music is the one dynamic thing that’s been synonymous with Christmas all the time. I cannot have Christmas without a Yano (Amapiano) sound bellowing in our speakers. I’ll be dancing my way into the New Year,” said Nqobile.

It is true that food is the magnet that glues families together during Christmas time but other things like apparel and music make up the DNA of this time of luxuriation and merriment.

This Christmas, what will be on your table? –  @SeehYvonne.