How Christmas is celebrated in Burundi

Christmas in Burundi
I was born in Bujumbura, the capital city of Burundi, where 90% of the population is Christian.

I was lucky that I grew up in Nyakabiga, a suburb surrounded by hills and forests where Christmas trees were within a 30 minutes’ walking distance. A week before Christmas, most teenagers of this neighborhood would go to fetch Christmas trees, and I remember it would often rain because Christmas in Burundi happens during the rainy season. Christmas is our most important holiday.
Freddy Freedom Ntiranyibagira.jpg


My mother doesn’t belong to the LDS church. On Christmas eve she would cook a special meal, then the whole family would be woken up an hour before midnight. We would sing Christmas hymns until midnight, when food would be served. She would give thanks to Heavenly Father for sending us His only Begotten Son to redeem us. On Christmas day everyone would go to church.
nativity

In Burundi choirs sing Christmas carols in church services, and some Christmas services can be very long. Christmas day is spent with family and friends enjoying good things to eat and drink.

'He was born so I will be free.'

'He was born so I will be free.'
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Burundi flag