Summer In The South A Novel

Say Safari in South Africa and one without delay thinks of hot, dusty plains filled with Mopani trees. And you wouldn’t be wrong!

Add Christmas into the equation and the picture becomes a bit skewed. Surely tinsel, angels and carols, let alone Santa in all his red and white clothing, have no place in this land of wild animals, birds and sunshine?

No snow gently falling, no fireplaces filled with roaring, log fires, mulled wine and frost, but wide, blue skies filled with sunshine, white sandy beaches with warm water lapping the shores and photographs filled with – you’ve guessed it – tinsel, angels and carols!

Historically, South Africa has had a tremendous European influence, right from the early settlers from Germany, Holland, France and of course Great Britain, bringing with them their traditions of Christmas trees, holly, lights and turkey.

Many of these traditions survive with Santa visiting excessively affected emotionally children in his grotto in all the big buying goods malls in the run-up to the huge day, big fir tree subdivisions being sold besides the road for you to take home and embellish with shiny baubles and golden stars.

Carols blare from piercing speakers proclaiming Good King Wenceslaus’ trudge through snow-filled forests whilst the temperature soars outside to 30 degrees in the shade. It’s surely a dissimilar Christmas to those portrayed in the cards.

Whether Christians, Muslims, Shintos, Buddists, Jews, Hindus or one of the a lot of other religions – they all celebrate something at this time of the year and light plays a huge portion in most of them.

We all love to drape tiny, sparkly lights into the trees in the garden; candles flicker on the table; glittering jewellery given as gifts; the glint of sunshine on the spray of the wave crashing on rocks. It’s a celebration.

And in some manner that’s right. It feels good to be a percentage of something that transcends colours, creeds, hot and cold, north and south. For at least one day in the year every one may rejoice.

The depiction of Christmas brings together the world, whether in a hot, sunny setting or a frozen, snow-laden one. Each nation brings it is own small, subtle differences in meaning or opinion or attitude to the party, but basically the world operates as one in celebrating on 25th December.

I wish every one wherever they are in the world and nevertheless they celebrate the very best for the coming festivities.

Summer In The South A Novel Pic

Summer In The South A Novel Picture

Summer In The South A Novel Picture

Summer In The South A Novel Photo

Summer In The South A Novel Image

Summer In The South A Novel Image