Christmas in the Village of Gouria, Cameroon

Not The Santa Claus Christmas

Here I present an essay written by one of Gouria's young men, Tenema Burnett who is living and studying in Valencia, Spain and Portsmouth, England. Gouria is a small village with about 3,000 inhabitants, and is located high in the Mandara mountain range in the Extreme North of the country. The name of the mountain upon which the village is to be found is called Malima. Various religious denominations are to be found there, including the Catholic Church and the Presbyterians.

Christmas in my village of Gouria

By Tenema Burnett

The magic word "Noel" is what all Christian folk, and even other believers in the village have been passionately waiting for. Noel is the only time of the year where there are abundances of delicious foods and it is also the time when many people get new clothes.

Early dawn on the 24th December sees each head of a family going to the village where they can buy meat for the special celebration. That day is also the last moment for women to have their hair done and get everything ready. As the night falls the first meat is cooked especially for each family, and about 8pm all young people go to the church to practice their role in the theatre presentation that will take place the following day.

The day of the 25th breaks with joy everywhere. Young people go to every house before daybreak wishing "Bon Noel" to all, and in return they get sweets, chewing gum, biscuits, chocolate, money, etc. Soon a fire is lit outside of the compound and family and friends sit around the fire having their first Christmas porridge.

About 8am the people go to the church and there is happiness and joy among all present. At noon food is cooked for the entire village. You don't need a special invitation to visit any of the houses. All are welcome throughout the village. The invitation is extended to Christians, Muslims, and people who believe in Animism. (That means belief in the material universe, including plants and rocks, etc.)

As the day progresses, at about three o'clock people begin to get ready, and by half-past four the village is blessed with new clothes and vibrant colours. The crowd then make their way to the state primary school where there is enough room for all the public to watch the play the Christians have prepared. Soon after the theatre presentation has ended members of the public begin singing and dancing.

Long after the adults have gone to their homes the young people continue celebrating well into the night.

Tenema Burnett

This is a wonderful description of the celebration of Christmas in a village so isolated. Although some practices follow those of Western countries in that gifts are given, it is good to see that Santa Claus does not exist in their culture, and is not thrust upon them by missionaries. At the end of the day it seems that our similarities between peoples around the world are greater than our differences.

Copyright (c) 2012 Eugene Carmichael