Winter holidays in rural Burundi differ from how winter holidays are celebrated in Austin and Central Texas. For one, Burundi’s subtropical, equatorial climate, which is at elevation, means it never sees snow but it does get cold, and there are dry and rainy seasons.
As Gazelle Foundation Co-Founder Gilbert Tuhabonye frequently says, “Rain is a blessing.” That sentiment certainly holds true in both Austin and Burundi.
holidays are special Days
The holidays in Austin and Central Texas are filled with Christmas trees, choral singing, Hanukkah lights, gift giving, Kwanzaa celebrations, and poinsettias. In Burundi, on the other hand, gift-giving and decorations are not part of Christmas, at least those in many villages in the countryside. Special food, religious services, and family gatherings make the holiday special.
Many of the people of Burundi identify as Christian (59% Catholic, 36% Protestant) with smaller communities practicing Islam (3%) and other religions.
Christmas in the Burundi Countryside
Christmas in Burundi is a special celebration with family and friends enjoying good things to eat and drink. Dishes packed with flavor, fried rice, vegetables, avocado, sukuma (cabbage) beans, bananas, and stew. There’s rarely electricity so holiday lights aren’t widespread. According to Gilbert, there’s singing, dancing, and relatives sharing stories. Christmas in Burundi is time to gather with family, go to church, and focus on the religious significance of the day.
For Gilbert, celebrating Christmas in Burundi growing up meant getting up in the morning, dressing up, and going to church with family. He and his family also attended a midnight mass. He recalls, it could be a little dangerous walking home in the dark.
Families enjoyed a special meal together for Christmas. For example, he says, “Rice is hard to get, so it was a big deal to serve rice at Christmas.”
New Year’s Celebrations in BurUNDI
New Year’s Day, on the other hand, is celebrated throughout Burundi. A time for all your relatives to gather together, all the children would visit with elders, so aunts, uncles, grandma and grandpa could share their wisdom and say a few words about hopes for the coming year. People would go from house to house so that no one person had to provide all the food for the entire group.
According to Gilbert, Burundians ring in the New Year with a lot of dancing, drinking, traditional music and instruments including drumming, and a feast with friends and family. The scene is very lively with much laughter. They might wish you Umwaka Mwiza, which translates to a “beautiful year” in Kurundi.
Fireworks are not a part of New Year’s in rural Burundi as they are in Central Texas, but Central Texas do love to celebrate the new year with friends and family, too.
Spread Hope Through Clean Water
Born in Burundi and now a resident of Austin, Texas, Gazelle Foundation Co-Founder Gilbert Tuhabonye advocates for sustainable clean water systems in Burundi to transform lives and bring more peace. After escaping genocide 30 years ago, he has dedicated his life to spreading forgiveness, hope, and joy. See his interview recorded at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum. Learn the difference clean water makes on rural Burundian communities, read about our ongoing impact, and find out how you can get involved in sharing the gift of clean water.
