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By Angelynne Enoka & Iulia Leilua |
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Christmas in Samoa is a fun and exciting time of the year for Samoans and visitors to the country. Planning for the actual day can begin months in advance, especially as there is a thirteen-day build-up to Christmas day in an annual event called “13 Days to Christmas”.
This comprises of dozens of local choirs performing Christmas carols and short dramas in the beautiful Upolu village of Vaitele-Uta. Dressed in white and differentiated only by the stripes of their church colours, the choirs perform a unique brand of Pacific-style Christmas carols. Choirs hail from all denominations with even the Samoan Police Band participating regularly each year. No one can fail to be inspired by the music, especially with the majestic sunsets that accompany the choirs each night.
“13 Days to Christmas” was started by Reverend Faitala Talapusi and originally began as a festive countdown to Christmas for Vaitele
villages only. The notion quickly gained popularity though with other
villages to the where it is now televised live and nationally on Samoan TV channel, Televise Samoa.
At
Christmas time, Samoa is a country on the move. Some families go on small
journeys to other rural or urban parts of Samoa to visit family and friends.
Many houses are festooned by this time with tinsel, coloured paper, Christmas
messages and floral decorations. Music filters the air everywhere - Christian,
rap, pop, rock - all seem to have a Christmas theme.
As the days draw closer to December 25, shopping in Samoa becomes
frenetic. Hundreds of relatives and tourists from overseas swamp the country’s small international airport. Buses and taxis do a brisk trade, and there is fierce competition for seats on ferries from Savaii to Upolu and back. December is one of the hottest times of the year for Samoa - but the sweltering temperatures do nothing to quell everyone’s Christmas spirit.
Apia, at Christmas time is a party-town. Nightclubs and bars provide a welcome respite from the day’s shopping for many
travellers. Others however may prefer a loud game of suipi (Samoan card game) at home with visiting relatives over a bottle of Vailima.
Even in remote rural areas of Upolu and
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The Samoa Police Brass Band in high demand during the Christmas festivity season.
(Photo: Samoa Post Newspaper)
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The all time favorite - a tin 'fagaofe' signals the beginning of the festivity season.
(Photo: Le Samoa Newspaper)
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It's Vailima time at one of the many parties around town. (Photo: Le Samoa Newspaper)
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Savaii, there is a festive mood. Here you’ll find children shouting “Merry Christmas” in English to impress visitors while their parents catch up with visitors or prepare for them.
Christmas in Samoa is about togetherness and celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Church activities play a prominent role in the festivities with many children proudly performing in dramas about the nativity story. Children are cherished members of Samoan families and most are rewarded with gifts from their families for achievements throughout the year. Although giving gifts at Christmas time was a concept introduced by Palagi, Samoans have adopted this custom with relish. Children even reciprocate their parents’ gifts by preparing food for them.
Attendance at church activities inevitably means the donating of money to the church or faifeau (minister). Christmas then must surely be a lucrative time for many ministers as increased attendance at church means increased donations.
On Christmas morning, thousands of umu-fires burn all over Samoa as they do everyday, only this time, the food cooking will be more plentiful and varied. Special culinary dishes will have been prepared especially for this day.
Christmas day begins with church and a sense of renewal takes place as everyone remembers the miracle of Christ's birth. Afterwards, food, presents, some noisy games of kilikiti or volleyball or a leisurely nap are typical Christmas day
favourites for Samoans.
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Copyright Event Polynesia Ltd.
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