Where I live in America once December hits it becomes cold
and snowy, and people get in the “Christmas Spirit”. Lights and trees decorate houses; Santa Clause and
Mistletoes appear around town.
Everywhere you look you see green and red. Along with acknowledging Jesus’ birth I had always
associated the commercialized part of Christmas to be part of the holiday. But this 2014 Christmas I got to
experience something new. A
Christmas in Ghana is very different from a Christmas in America and it was
wonderful to be able to experience it with my friends and family here in Ghana.
On Christmas Day my family and I attended a traditional Ghanaian engagement. The engagement is the traditional marriage that binds the bride and grooms families together. This engagement was taking place between a Ghanaian groom a bride who was born and raised in America. At the engagement the couple wore traditional outfits such as kente cloth and then after the marriage was complete the changed into more westernized clothing and attended the reception. At the engagement the groom and his family presented the bride and her family with the bride-price which is given to the bride to show that the groom is worthy enough of marrying her. Scriptures were read, songs were sung, and dances were performed. It was a very informal wedding and the audience members could speak during the ceremony freely. I was happy to be able to experience a traditional wedding in Ghana.
After the engagement my sister and I went to a gathering with friends where we ate and talked and enjoyed Christmas together. There were traditional foods such as fufu, kenkey, and kelewele etc. music was playing, and games were played. It was a nice time to sit around and enjoy the holidays. Following that we went back home and had a get together at our house. Christmas day proved to be relaxing and a time for friends and family to come together and share traditions. The rest of the Christmas holiday I spent at beaches, going out to dinners and lunches and just enjoying Ghana.
On Christmas Day my family and I attended a traditional Ghanaian engagement. The engagement is the traditional marriage that binds the bride and grooms families together. This engagement was taking place between a Ghanaian groom a bride who was born and raised in America. At the engagement the couple wore traditional outfits such as kente cloth and then after the marriage was complete the changed into more westernized clothing and attended the reception. At the engagement the groom and his family presented the bride and her family with the bride-price which is given to the bride to show that the groom is worthy enough of marrying her. Scriptures were read, songs were sung, and dances were performed. It was a very informal wedding and the audience members could speak during the ceremony freely. I was happy to be able to experience a traditional wedding in Ghana.
After the engagement my sister and I went to a gathering with friends where we ate and talked and enjoyed Christmas together. There were traditional foods such as fufu, kenkey, and kelewele etc. music was playing, and games were played. It was a nice time to sit around and enjoy the holidays. Following that we went back home and had a get together at our house. Christmas day proved to be relaxing and a time for friends and family to come together and share traditions. The rest of the Christmas holiday I spent at beaches, going out to dinners and lunches and just enjoying Ghana.
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