Christmas at the volunteers house
„In der Weihnachtsbäckerei, gibt’s so manche leckerein, ….“ (German Christmas song)
That’s how it sounded about two weeks ago from our kitchen and we, the volunteers all joined singing. At our place in between sunshine, palm trees and beach there actually came up some Christmas atmosphere. Thanks to my sister, who paid me a visit at the beginning of December, we even had a small Christmas tree with lights, an advent wreath and an advent calendar (typical German advent traditions). Together with some improvised punch and a Christmas audiobook we enjoyed the time before Christmas – but unfortunately the typical German Christmas cookies were missing; and an oven to bake. Therefore we became a bit creative and within some days our boxes were filled with gingerbread, oatmeal cookies, lemon biscuits and cacao cookies from the pan, the pot or the freezer. Until Christmas eve (24th December) we already had eaten all the biscuits but in return we had a delicious 3-course-dinner. With some Ghanaian friends we had a feast and afterwards we gave some presents to each other under our Christmas-palm frond.
Sounds quite German? That’s what it is. Because here in Ghana the 24th of December is not a special day. Christmas is being celebrated on the 25th but it’s not really a big deal, like in Germany. A lot of people go to church, prepare some nice Fufu and some of them give presents. Sometimes you could hear Christmas songs from the neighbours compound, the radio in the trotro or our veranda during Fante lesson….
So that’s how we spent Christmas this year, a little different but great and cosy in the middle of Komenda. Here are some impressions:
