Christmas in Madagascar

Ahh, it’s summertime! Grilling hot dogs and roasting marshmallows, pool time and water balloon fights. Maybe visiting a summer camp for a few days was a tradition in your family. Summer camp meant traveling in hot cars or buses filled with antsy kids. Bunking with your siblings, cousins and new friends yet to be. Running around in the heat of the day only finding relief in the mess halls and classrooms with inspirational speakers or bible teachers. Listening to lessons and stories that seemed to last an eternity. All in all, every part of it felt exciting because it was “Summer Camp”!

Living on an island located off the east coast of Africa, with bright, red poinsettia bushes blooming all year long, the people of Madagascar never experience cold or snow at Christmas. December can actually be the hottest month of their year!

Christmas in Madagascar would be more like a stay at a summer camp. It is not about the gifts exchanged but more about celebrating in church. In the African heat, packed shoulder to shoulder in churches, they celebrate! Their typical Christmas Eve service starts at 5pm and goes until well after midnight! No one is restless, not even the children. Could you have made it through services that long as a kid?! Certainly the anticipation for Christmas presents and treats to follow must be what sustains them! Much like the promise of the open doors to the canteen store filled with candy and ice cream to purchase after a long day of playing at summer camp.

Lychees are sweet fruits that are ripe just in time for Christmas in Madagascar. Everyone has their fill and then some of these tasty treats. Speaking of summer goodies, our Christmas in July Sale is full of sweet craft kits to make as a gift for yourself or to share! From the Woodland Snowman Bucilla Stocking Kit to the Partridge in a Pear Tree Bucilla Ornament Kit, there’s enough kits to make you start wishing for the snow to fall. Happy Christmas in July to all and to all, Happy Crafting!