A Festive Season Under The Stars: Christmas In Afghanistan

Christmas is not a public holiday in Afghanistan, a country where public holidays are observed with zeal and religious events are celebrated with enthusiasm. However, for soldiers deployed in Afghanistan, Christmas is still celebrated in various ways. Soldiers shared a meal of goat meat with Afghan Army members, played games, and held movie nights.

Soldiers' experiences of Christmas in Afghanistan

Spending Christmas away from home is difficult for soldiers in Afghanistan, especially for those with spouses and children. However, soldiers have found various ways to celebrate and lift their spirits.

Decorating Christmas trees, exchanging gifts, and video calling family are some of the ways soldiers stay connected with their loved ones and maintain a sense of normalcy during the holidays. They also engage in activities such as gaming competitions, movie nights, and playing musical instruments to pass the time and boost morale.

Food plays a significant role in Christmas celebrations. Cooks prepare special meals, including comfort foods that remind soldiers of home. In some cases, soldiers share meals with the Afghan Army, slaughtering and eating goat meat together.

While Christmas can be a challenging time for soldiers in Afghanistan, they find comfort in their platoon, who become like a second family. They also appreciate the opportunity to connect with their families through digital technology, which was not widely available during previous wars.

Gaming competitions

While Christmas is not a public holiday in Afghanistan, it is still celebrated by troops deployed to the country. One way they mark the occasion is by holding gaming competitions.

Although they may not have the latest consoles, troops in Afghanistan hold gaming competitions with whatever games they have available. These can include board games like Risk, or video games played on older consoles.

In Afghanistan more generally, there is a thriving market for video games, with a large youth population and growing technology penetration. Mobile games are particularly popular, with over 80% of gaming audiences in the country playing on their phones.

There is also a rich history of traditional games in Afghanistan, including folk games like "arguri barguri", a game played mostly by boys that involves singing a song and collecting flour from different houses. Another example is "dandaclid", a two-player game involving two sticks, one large and one small.

Cake-making from MRE ingredients

Christmas in Afghanistan is not like Christmas in many other parts of the world. For soldiers deployed to the front lines, the holiday can feel like a normal working day. However, troops still find creative ways to celebrate. Here is a guide to making a cake from MRE ingredients, inspired by the innovative ways soldiers in Afghanistan celebrate Christmas.

Ingredients

MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) are designed to provide energy and nutrition for people in on-the-go situations. They are commonly used by soldiers in the field and can be purchased from military suppliers or certain online retailers. MREs often include a variety of snacks, desserts, and beverages that can be combined to create a cake. Some common MRE ingredients that can be used for cake-making include:

• Pound cake or brownies: These can be used as a base for your cake. MRE pound cakes come in a variety of flavors, such as vanilla, applesauce, lemon poppy seed, and marble.
• Cookies: Shortbread cookies or other types of cookies can be crumbled and mixed with the pound cake to add texture and flavor.
• Bread: Afghan bread, which is flat and similar to naan, can be crumbled or processed into crumbs to use as a base or topping for your cake.
• Spreads: Jams, jellies, peanut butter, or cheese spreads can be used as frosting or filling for your cake.
• Fruits: Dried fruits like raisins, nuts, and pistachios can add flavor and texture to your cake.

Instructions

• Combine the dry ingredients: Start by crushing or processing the pound cake, cookies, or bread into fine crumbs. You can use a food processor or blender if available, or place the ingredients in a sealed bag and crush them with a rolling pin or your hands. Mix in any dried fruits or nuts you want to include.
• Add liquid ingredients: MREs often include beverage mixes or drink powders that can be mixed with water. Add a small amount of liquid to your dry mixture to form a dough. You can also use water or any juices you have available.
• Shape your cake: Use your hands or a spoon to shape the dough into a cake shape. You can form a traditional round or rectangular cake, or get creative with shapes that fit the holiday theme, such as a Christmas tree or a star.
• Add frosting and decorations: Use spreads like peanut butter, cheese spreads, or jams as frosting for your cake. You can also sprinkle cookie crumbs or dried fruit on top for added texture and flavor. Get creative with your decorations to make your cake festive!
• Enjoy your cake: MRE cakes may not look or taste like traditional cakes, but they can be a delicious treat and a fun way to boost morale during the holidays. Enjoy your cake with your fellow troops and celebrate the season!

Note: MREs have a long shelf life, but it's important to check the production dates and ensure the ingredients are still safe to consume. The shelf life can be extended if the MREs are stored in cool conditions.

Christmas in Afghanistan

While cake-making from MRE ingredients can be a fun activity, it's important to understand the context in which these creative celebrations take place. Christmas for soldiers deployed in Afghanistan can be a challenging time, as they are away from their loved ones and often facing increased security threats from the enemy. Workloads and security levels tend to increase during the holidays, keeping soldiers busy and focused on their missions.

Celebrations may include gaming competitions, movie nights, musical performances with improvised instruments, and sharing meals with Afghan Army troops. Christmas dinners are a highlight, with soldiers enjoying hot meals, often featuring goat meat, after days or weeks of cold rations. Decorations, games, and a sense of camaraderie bring joy and a small sense of home to these celebrations.

So, as you make your MRE cake, remember the resilience and creativity of those who have celebrated Christmas in Afghanistan. It's a unique blend of ingenuity, resourcefulness, and the enduring spirit of the holiday season.

Sharing meals with Afghan Army soldiers

Sharing meals is a great way to bring people together, and this is especially true for soldiers celebrating Christmas in Afghanistan. Here are some paragraphs detailing the experience of sharing meals with Afghan Army soldiers during the holiday season:

The Importance of Sharing Meals

It can be challenging for soldiers to be away from their friends and families during Christmas. However, sharing meals with their fellow platoon members and the Afghan Army can bring a sense of camaraderie and comfort. The act of breaking bread together fosters a sense of community and can help soldiers feel less homesick during the holidays.

Traditional Afghan Hospitality

Afghans are known for their hospitality, and this extends to their military culture as well. Sharing meals with Afghan Army soldiers often involves partaking in traditional Afghan cuisine, such as goat or chicken wrapped in Afghan bread. This type of meal is usually eaten by hand, with the right hand only, and is often accompanied by social discussions and the serving of tea.

A Break from Routine

For soldiers deployed to Afghanistan, Christmas can feel like just another working day. However, sharing a meal with Afghan Army soldiers can provide a much-needed break from the routine. It allows soldiers to relax, socialize, and take their minds off the stresses of their deployment, even if just for a little while.

Cultural Exchange

A Memorable Experience

For many soldiers, sharing a Christmas meal with Afghan Army soldiers is a unique and memorable experience. It is a chance to create lasting memories with their fellow soldiers and form bonds with their Afghan counterparts. These shared meals often involve storytelling, laughter, and a sense of gratitude for the opportunity to come together and celebrate, despite the challenges of being away from home during the holidays.

Chemical light raves

Christmas celebrations in Afghanistan can vary depending on location and individual circumstances. For military personnel deployed to the front lines, Christmas can feel like a normal working day, but troops still find creative ways to celebrate and lift their spirits. One such way is by hosting "chemical light raves".

To create a rave-like atmosphere, troops crack the capsules inside the glow sticks to release the chemicals and wait for the light to reach its brightest point. They then spin the glow sticks to create a captivating display of swirling lights. This tactic is not only entertaining but also tactical, as it provides a way to celebrate while remaining discreet in potentially hostile environments.

The use of chemical lights offers several advantages in such settings. They are waterproof, non-flammable, and non-sparking, making them safer than traditional light sources in certain situations. Additionally, their disposability and lack of batteries make them convenient for one-time use.

By incorporating chemical light raves into their celebrations, troops in Afghanistan can momentarily forget the challenges of being far from home and create joyful memories that boost their morale during difficult times.

Frequently asked questions