Unique African Christmas Traditions

Ben Johnson

Dec. 22, 2025

Christmas has variations across the globe which relate to climate, culture and many other things. Africa is host to millions of Christmas-celebrating Christians and with such unique cultures and diversity across the continent, many places have unique traditions that you won’t see in Europe or North America.

Here are some of our top picks for unique African Christmas traditions.

1. Camel Santa

In Kenya, there are no reindeer, so instead Santa is traditionally depicted riding on the back of a camel. This totally makes sense as having been to Kenya there is a significant lack of reindeer. In my homeland of Australia, we also depict Santa in a Similar way with Kangaroos leading the sleigh. Baba Krismasi as Santa is known in Kenya is also sometimes depicted in a land rover, or bicycle as well.

2. Storytelling in Cameroon

Christmas in Africa is considered a time for family and church and has slightly less of a capitalist feel to it than Europe or the USA. That is not to say that capitalism doesn’t play a big part because it certainly does, however people in Africa will focus more on the religious aspect of the holiday. During this time in Cameroon when everyone is back home there is a Cameroonian tradition to sit around and hear stories told by elders.

While plastic green Christmas trees are slowly becoming more popular in the country, people will commonly decorate their houses with a local type of cyprus tree which they will decorate with banana leaves.

If you’re interested in travelling with us to Cameroon, check out our group tour dates here on our website .

3. Mango tree decorations

Traditional Christmas trees and pine trees in general aren’t exactly native to the continent, however from south to north Mango trees are in wide abundance in Africa and so it is common for homes with mango trees, to decorate them. It also isn’t an uncommon sight to see communities decorating mango trees out in the public as well. This also reminds me of decorating eucalyptus trees back home in Australia.

4. Coptic and Orthodox Christmas

Out of the millions of Christians in Africa, many of them in Ethiopia and Egypt follow a different calendar for Christmas celebrations. While the majority of us celebrate Christmas on the 25 ^th of December, most people in Egypt and Ethiopia will celebrate it on January 7 ^th . This is also the same for orthodox Christians in Central Asia and Eastern Europe.

5. Old Man Bayka – Liberia

This has to be one of the most unique Christmas traditions/figures on the continent.  Old man Bayka or “old man beggar” is not exactly the opposite of Santa, but he definitely isn’t as generous. Old man bayka is normally depicted as a man in rags with a big belly that begs for gifts. He is said to represent the spirits of “dancing devils” which are said to reside in the Liberian bush.

He will be heard saying the phrase “Merry Christmas on you” which actually means, please give me a gift. He is often see in the streets dancing to local drum music and is an example of local traditions that have been mixed with western traditions in the post-colonial era. The costumes of old man bayka are kind of like a west African version of Krampus. Personally we love old man bayka and any other type of unique and interesting Christmas traditions.

6. Braais and barbecues

For most of Africa there is no snow at Christmas and instead the weather is hot! This is very different to Christmas you’d experience in North America or Europe with hot roast dinners and crowding around by a fire. In South Africa in particular it is common to have an outdoor braai (a style of barbecue) instead of the heavier Christmas traditional foods. Honestly, a hot Christmas at the beach is fantastic and everyone should experience it once.

7. Santi man – Special mention to Curacao

While not in Africa we thought we’d throw this one in here because honestly he’s just super cool. Many Caribbean countries have their own version of Santa called Santi man who is often depicted as being skinny and with more of a beach vibe. Oh and you better believe that they have Caribbean-style Christmas music. We can’t recommend enough looking up Jamaican patois Christmas carols.

Africa is one of the most unique places on the planet and we honestly can’t get enough of it. We’d love to show you the best of our African destinations on one of our African group tours which you can see here on our website.

For more information and to sign up to a Saiga Africa group tour, send us an email to [email protected] .