Christmas PJs. Open mic by the tree. traditional treat baking and wreath making. escaping to paradise before the festive rush. Oh jingle bells! With Christmas just days away, some of our 2024 featured stars share how they get into the holiday spirit.
Carrying on cherished customs
The daughter of a pastor and the advertising and sponsorship manager for SPAR KZN, Nozipho Mkhize, says Christmas is a truly special time for her family.
“Continuing traditions, I’ve kind of copied and pasted what my parents used to do, but added my own modern twist as my husband and I usually have the honour of hosting Christmas. Growing up in an incredibly close-knit family, my sisters, Noks and Banele, and I used to dress up in similar outfits, and have the same hairstyle on Christmas Day. Today, our Christmas lunches are always themed and invites go out as early as November 1.
“I shop for table decorations, crockery and cutlery to match, and come the first week of December, my hubby, Ntuthuko, and the girls, Hlobisa and Luyanda, get our tree out and we decorate it with gorgeous things we have collected over the years. It is an unwritten rule during the festive season that we prefer to spend time with our sisters, their families and our in-laws. It’s a grand time and good for our kids to bond with their cousins. We don’t do this often enough in our busy lives – so the time together is cherished.
“Christmas Eve is like an open mic event with the entire family. We sing – a lot! We start with karaoke and then wind into Christmas carols. Our boys entertain us and share off-the-cuff speeches, touching on ridiculous topics that make us all laugh. Christmas Day starts early – gifts for the kids, followed by a light breakfast together and then we cook up a storm – delicious gammon, lamb roast, seafood, tons of colourful, complimentary veggies and of course, homemade dessert. It is the only time I make desserts from scratch. My mom, Tina, makes the best fruit cake – a true family favourite she can’t show up without.
“Our beautiful extended family sit down to a hearty meal, blessed by my 82-year-old dad, Emmanuel, through prayer. Both dad and my father-in-law then dress up as Father Christmas and hand out more gifts to everyone celebrating with us. Afterwards, we have a fabulous party that goes on until midnight. For us, this time is all about the kids and grandparents and creating memories for them.”
Extending joy this Christmas
Pearl Holdstock – business owner, law student, popular social media creator and mother of five – shares how her family is celebrating Christmas differently this year, without a tree.
“Instead of putting up our tree, we have decided to give our Christmas tree and Christmas decorations to a family in need from the Emalangeni community. We are teaching our children the true spirit of Christmas which is giving. We are also teaching them contentment, gratefulness and about serving others.
“Since Christmas really is about family, we will be having a good time together as a family and enjoying simple but memorable moments like learning to make and decorated a gingerbread house or trying our hand at gingerbread cookies.”
Pearl’s Gingerbread cookies
Pearl says this recipe is a great place to start as it brings festive cheer into any home, by livening the air up with the comforting aromas of cinnamon, ginger and cloves.
You’ll need: ½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature; 2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar; 1/3 cup molasses; 1 large egg yolk; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2¼ cups all-purpose flour, spooned and levelled; 2 teaspoons cinnamon; 2 teaspoons ground ginger; 1 teaspoon baking soda; ½ teaspoon fine sea salt; ¼ teaspoon ground cloves; 1 tablespoon milk
What to do: In the bowl of a stand mixer, or using an electric mixer, cream the butter and brown sugar. Add the molasses, egg yolk, and vanilla and mix again. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda, salt, and cloves. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing after each addition. Mix in the milk. Form the dough into a ball, divide the ball in half, and flatten each half into a one-inch-thick disk. Wrap in plastic and chill for at least two hours.
Preheat the oven to 180°C and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface until about ½ cm thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes, then transfer the cut-outs to the prepared baking sheets, re-rolling the dough scraps as necessary. Bake, one sheet at a time, until the edges of the cookies are just set but the middles are still soft. The cookies might seem underdone but taking them out at this point will ensure that they stay soft once they cool. Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Decorate as desired.
Bringing the warmth of Christmas home
Christmas for home-Industry creative Kate Cole-Bowen, is all about friends, family, furries and the art of giving and receiving.
“It’s a magical time because I get to see my boys from Canada – James and Matt – who prefer the warmer temperatures, and hopefully me, during the festive time. We generally split the festive time between home, Howick and Joburg, to spend time with all our loved ones. But, Christmas Eve and Christmas day are spent at home, as my youngest always enjoys Christmas at home rather than anywhere else. We love our home. We can have lots of friends and family over and we all get along, so there are always good vibes.
“We dress our Christmas tree with coloured ornaments, tinsel and pictures of friends and family, stuck to wooden stars my brother made, with handwritten messages on the back of each. More than Christmas décor, our tree is one filled with memories of loved ones, heavenly and earthly, and special times.
“As the kids have got older, experiences have become more important to them, and to us all, than gifts, but we do make time for small gifts that we open on Christmas morning. The real celebration though, happens on Christmas Eve. There’s always a long grocery list to get through weeks before all the family arrive, because everyone wants a traditional meal – a nice juicy bacon-wrapped chicken with stuffing, roast potatoes, vegetables and gravy; gammon on the side, prepared with slices of pineapple and cranberry and a fillet with mustard sauce. Dessert is my mom’s traditional Pavlova, topped with fruit and cream.
“When I cook, I am surrounded by dogs, kids and the cat, music and a few glasses of wine. We set the table for dinner, kick-start the celebrations with an improvised playlist – a few cheesy Christmas tunes, intermixed with our favourites. Nothing beats sharing and taking in the moment of this typical festive dinner with family and special friends. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Making Christmas bright
Flower queen Lindy Fourie believes nothing is more magical than experiencing Christmas through her children’s eyes. She also shares her tips for creating a festive Christmas wreath.
“I absolutely love decorating for Christmas with my family – it’s one of my favorite traditions. Watching their excitement as we decorate the tree and the house, makes the holiday season even more special. We head out on December 1 to The Christmas Tree Farm in Hillcrest and choose the biggest tree we can find. The kids help us decorate and we give them free rein. I’ve been collecting Nutcrackers over the last few years, and we buy one each Christmas to add to our set. My brother and his family emigrated to New Zealand in 2023, and we lost our dad in November the same year, so this is a very tender time for us – reminder of how precious time with family is.
“But Christmas Day is extra special for us because we also celebrate my mom’s birthday. We usually start the morning at home, with the kids racing through the house in search of where Santa has left their treasures. My brother-in-law lives next door with his wife and two kids, so we share a moment with them as well.
“We try to squeeze in a visit with special friends when it works out, and our family takes turns hosting Christmas lunch, which is the next step in our day. Our table usually features loads of candles, mini-Christmas trees and of course fresh flowers, while the house is filled with love, giggles, laughter and celebration.
“This year we’ll be having our family Christmas earlier in December, as we are heading to the USA to spend time with friends we’ve not seen since before Covid. Our gathering will include all the same fun and excitement and of course matching pyjamas. As for our New Year’s plans, we depart the USA on December 31, so we’ll likely be ringing in the New Year with a view of the clouds.”
Every November, Lindy’s flower shop Flourish hosts a wreath-making evening at Cotswold, which is a whole lot of fun. If you missed out but would like to try DIY your own, here’s her step-by-step guide to making a Christmas wreath using an oasis ring and foliage.
You’ll need: An oasis ring (floral foam ring available from Flourish); fresh foliage (eucalyptus, ruskus, viburnum, ivahoe); wire (floral wire or green craft wire); wire cutters; scissors; ribbon (optional); decorations (pinecones, berries, ornaments)
What to do: Soak the oasis ring Immerse the oasis ring in water for about 30 minutes until fully saturated. This helps keep your foliage fresh.
Prepare your foliage Trim the stems of your foliage to about 5-8cm long. Remove any excess leaves to make them easier to insert into the foam.
Start arranging the foliage Begin inserting your foliage around the outer edge of the ring, angling them slightly outward for a fuller look. Work in sections, layering different types of foliage for texture.
Fill in the gaps Continue to fill in the inner part of the wreath, ensuring there are no visible gaps. Use shorter pieces of foliage for the inner circle.
Add decorations Once the foliage is arranged, incorporate any decorations like pinecones, berries, or ornaments. Secure them with wire or push them into the foam.
Finish with ribbon (optional)
If desired, create a bow with ribbon and attach it to the top of the wreath or at the bottom.
Final adjustments
Step back and check for balance and fullness. Make any adjustments to the foliage or decorations as needed. Water maintenance: Keep the oasis moist by periodically adding water to the base, ensuring the wreath stays fresh throughout the holiday season.
Tips: Choose a variety of foliage for colour and texture. If using dried or preserved elements, consider incorporating them for longevity. Hang your wreath using a sturdy hook or ribbon.
The merry spirit of family
As the holiday season comes alive, SA touch rugby star Mengka Singh carries a love for Christmas that’s as warm as her family’s holiday traditions. For Mengka, Christmas is all about being surrounded by family, filling her heart with the comfort of home-cooked meals and the laughter of loved ones.
“Growing up, my mum would start preparing for Christmas the day before, and the house would be filled with the scent of roast chicken and lamb. My sister and I would join in the preparations, especially in the highly important role of taste testers. My sister, with her creative flair, would also take on the role of head decorator, turning the table into a festive masterpiece. A mini-Christmas tree would sit in the corner and, for a festive twist, red cherries rolled in glitter would be laid out as a sparkling snack. It’s a little thing but those cherries just feel like Christmas to me.
“When it came to gift-giving we’ve always taken a simpler approach, choosing to focus instead on the joy of togetherness. Friends and family would gather, each bringing dishes, desserts, and plenty of wine to share. The sounds of Christmas music filled the air and the house was alive with laughter, creating a holiday memory filled with love and joy.
“Christmas wouldn’t be complete without mum’s iconic trifle—layers of red and green jelly adding a festive flair to the dessert table. No matter how full I was, there was always room for that trifle, and my gran’s famous Christmas cake as a late-evening treat, paired with cup of tea.
“This year, Christmas is taking on a new shape. Mum lives in a different province, but I’m hoping she’ll come down to Durban after reading this. We’ll be celebrating between her gran’s home and my dad’s, holding fast to the tradition of spending the holiday surrounded by the people I love. Christmas is truly a reminder that the true magic of the season doesn’t come from the presents or the decorations, but from the people who fill our lives with love.”
Making Christmas memories
For live loop artist and songwriter Tanner Wareham, Christmas has been a journey of lows and highs.
“Getting together for Christmas is no easy task, as myself, my mom and two brothers are fairly spread out across the world – Hillcrest, Northern Zululand, Secotra (an island off the coast of Yemen) and Jersey (a Channel Island off the UK). This wasn’t the case growing up, when the extended Wareham family would congregate on our property in Kloof, where me, my younger brother, parents and my father’s parents lived. There could be up to 40 people for Christmas when my older half-brother’s family would also join us.
“It was nothing short of festive and full of tradition – from brandy butter and Christmas puddings to uncles dressed as Santa, huge Christmas trees and loads of presents. Sadly, the year I turned 14, in the space of three months my father and grandfather both tragically and unexpectedly passed, and we were forced to disperse from the big family house, which these two men built.
“For years after this, Christmas was different and brought up the emotions of absent family. Christmases also went from the huge festive affairs we were used to, to small braais with friends or trips away. In light of this, I’d like to give a shout out to our mother Gwen, who never gave up on giving us a joyful Christmas and, up till about two years ago when I turned 28, still forced us to open stockings. We are slowly forming new traditions as we find a new family growing around us, and our relationship to God has grown too, giving us reason to be extremely grateful on the 25th.
“Christmas is now a different adventure each year. Sometimes we’re all apart, sometimes together, sometimes I’ll be at church leading worship, brandy butter has turned to tequila, big gatherings have turned to a small game of lawn cricket, and, praise the Lord, a hell of a lot less dishes to wash. We’re quickly finding the spirit of Christmas again despite the tragedies, and I believe this is what it’s all about. Christ was born to come and suffer for our freedom so that we find freedom in our own suffering. Merry Christmas to all of you out there and God bless!”
A musical Christmas affair
For family folk and country cover band Kith & Kin, Christmas celebrations have always been bestrewed with music and family concerts, faithfully watched – like it or not – by friends, uncles, aunts and cousins.
“For many years, Christmas has been enjoyed at a family game farm outside Barkly West, but this year our home in Kloof will be the theatre. On one of our previous Christmas trips, through the Northern Cape, we needed a promotional music video for our fame and fortune. We figured a windmill would be the perfect backdrop. Climbing the fence and trudging through a farmer’s field to his windmill seemed quite acceptable. After many takes, the cell phone video was made. We’ve always wondered what this poor farmer might have thought had he stumbled upon us hippy, guitar-laden trespassers, bashing away tunes amongst the cows in his mielie field.
“These are precious laughs and memories that have bound us as a family band and made Christmas time more memorable. Eggnog and turkey have never been our thing, so our ‘producer’ mom, Elza, has drawn on her German heritage to adorn our Christmas table with gluhwein and curry, and we’ll be making music around the table and all over KZN.
“It’s our passion and our pleasure, and we look forward to sharing it all with you wherever you may be. Have a blessed Christmas and toast a musical New Year with this Kith & Kin Gluhwein recipe!”
Kith & Kin Gluhwein recipe
You’ll need: 1/2 medium orange; 3/4 cups water; 1/4 cup granulated sugar; 10 to 20 whole cloves; 2 cinnamon sticks; 2 whole star anise; 1 (750-ml) bottle dry red wine; rum or amaretto, for serving (optional)
What to do: Using a vegetable peeler, remove the zest from the orange in wide strips, taking care to avoid the white pith; set aside. Juice the orange and set the juice aside. Combine the water and sugar in a large, nonreactive saucepan and boil until the sugar has completely dissolved.
Reduce the heat and add the cloves, cinnamon, star anise, orange zest, and orange juice.
Simmer until a fragrant syrup forms, about 1 minute. Reduce the heat further and add the wine. Let it barely simmer for at least 20 minutes but up to a few hours. Keep an eye out so that it doesn’t reach a full simmer. Strain and serve in small mugs, adding a shot of rum or amaretto and garnishing with the orange peel and star anise if desired.
Drink and be merry!
Holiday joy, wrapped in love
For paediatrician Dr Nadia Khan, the magic of her festive season tradition lies in being able to escape before the holiday rush and before the December frenzy begins.
“Both my husband and I are doctors, and we therefore have unpredictable working hours. For both of us the festive season is usually a busy time, and we have always worked throughout this time of year. Because of this, we’ve found a way to do our holidaying sometime before the festive season, and this has now become our tradition.
“Our annual holiday tradition has become an island or beach getaway. This year we travelled to the Maldives and it was our 10th trip there. We are drawn by the unmatched beauty of this place. The tranquillity and the privacy allow us to reconnect and recharge like no other place we’ve travelled to. But it does not stop there. We both scuba dive, with my husband also being an avid free diver and the crystal-clear water and vibrant sea life makes for spectacular dives, with sightings like manta rays, sharks, turtles and the colourful schools of fish always gliding in co-ordinated movement.
“Then there are the spas that never disappoint … offering treatments from all around the world and sometimes wellness therapy combining Ayurvedic, Chinese or other forms of traditional healing. The holiday crowds aren’t there, and it feels as if we have our own little slice of paradise. It’s also great because we return home rejuvenated and ready to embrace our busy working ‘holiday’ season with open arms.
“Our pre-festive getaway has evolved with each trip and as we stepped into becoming parents. From teaching our son, Yahya, to swim, fish and to snorkel, and now sharing these moments together as a family. I think the Maldives will always hold the most cherished memories for us. It’s a bit unconventional but it works for us and there’s something truly special about returning home before the festive season with a sun-kissed glow and a heart full of memories.”
Sharing heart-warming traditions
Every Christmas local author, podcaster and motivational speaker Senta Seele, loves to honour her German grandmother by baking Lebkuchen – a traditional German treat.
“I grew up in a family that honoured both my father’s German and my mother’s English ancestry and customs and I loved every aspect of both. I have very special memories of sitting with my family in our farmhouse listening to German Christmas carols on Christmas Eve and celebrating with my English family on Christmas day.
“Although my life has changed a lot since my childhood, I still like to honour one particular tradition. My Oma used to bake many German treats, including Lebkuchen – a traditional spiced, soft and chewy Christmas treat, made with honey or syrup, nuts, citrus peel and a whole range of delicious spices.
“Every year, since I was a teenager, I’ve baked Lebkuchen following my Oma’s recipe. I give them out as gifts to friends and family, and love being able to give a homemade gift that honours my family and my heritage. While I’m baking, I listen to German Christmas Carols and enjoy the nostalgic smell of the spices. I always pack the Lebkuchen into beautiful Christmas boxes and hand deliver them. My father naturally receives the biggest box, and I love that he is still able to enjoy his mother’s Christmas treats every year.
“Christmas can be a hard time for many people, and for many years it hasn’t been easy for me. But we all have a choice. We can choose to hold ourselves in past stories that may hurt us or we can choose to write beautiful new stories for ourselves. We can choose to connect to special childhood memories like my Lebkuchen or we can choose to create new memories for ourselves and our loved ones. I wish you all a Frohe Weihnachten – Happy Christmas – and so much love.”
