Merry Christmas In Angola: A Quick Guide To Greeting

Christmas is a big celebration in Angola, with over 50% of the population being Catholic and at least another 25% being other kinds of Christians. The main language spoken in Angola is Portuguese, so if you want to say 'Merry Christmas' in this country, you say 'Feliz Natal'!

How to say 'Merry Christmas' in Angola in the Lingala language

Merry Christmas in Angola is "Feliz Natal" in Portuguese, the country's official language. However, 46 other languages are spoken in Angola, including Lingala, which is a Bantu language with around 40 million speakers. In the Lingala language, the phrase for Merry Christmas is "Mbotama Malamu".

Lingala is spoken in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, and to a lesser degree in Kenya and southern South Sudan. It is a creole language with roots in the Bobangi language, which provided most of its lexicon and grammar. The Lingala language has several regional variations, including Northwestern Lingala, Kinshasa Lingala, and Brazzaville Lingala.

The Lingala language has a complex history. It originated from the trade language Bobangi, which was widely used on the western sections of the Congo River before the arrival of Europeans in the early 1880s. The Europeans attempted to learn Bobangi but only acquired imperfect knowledge, resulting in a restructured variety called "the trade language", among other names. This new language was introduced at the Bangala Station in 1884 for communication with the local Congolese.

Around 1901, missionaries began a project to "purify" the language, which had acquired pidgin-like features, and renamed it "Lingala". The name change was accepted in western and northwestern Congo and other countries where the language was spoken but not in northeastern Congo, where the language is still called Bangala.

Today, Lingala is a widely spoken language with approximately 20 million native speakers and about 20 million second-language speakers.

How to say 'Merry Christmas' in Angola in the Portuguese language

Christmas is a big celebration in Angola, with over 50% of the population being Catholic and at least another 25% being other kinds of Christians. The main language spoken in Angola is Portuguese, and the way to say Merry Christmas in Portuguese is 'Feliz Natal'.

In Angola, Christmas Day is marked by church services, with Midnight Mass held on Christmas Eve and another Mass on Christmas Day. The Christmas meal is traditionally eaten after the Christmas Day church service, and it usually includes 'pirão' or 'funge' (a type of polenta made of cornmeal or cassava flour), rice, spaghetti, french fries, turkey, fried chicken, and various other dishes. Dessert is often a Bolo Rei cake, due to Angola's historical connection with Portugal.

In addition to Portuguese, there are several other languages spoken in Angola, including Lingala, which is spoken in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, and Angola. In Lingala, Merry Christmas is 'Mbotama Malamu'.

How to celebrate Christmas in Angola

Merry Christmas in Angola is 'Feliz Natal'. This is because the main language spoken in Angola is Portuguese.

Christmas is a big celebration in Angola, with over 50% of the population being Catholic, and at least another 25% being other kinds of Christians. Here are some ways people celebrate Christmas in Angola:

Attending Church Services

Going to church on Christmas Day is important for Angolans. There are Midnight Mass services on Christmas Eve and also a Mass on Christmas Day. The Christmas Day Mass is also broadcast on national TV, so people can watch it from home if they are unable to attend in person. During Advent, many people attend special church services.

Meals and Food

The main Christmas meal is usually eaten after the Christmas Day church service. Families and friends visit each other's houses, and guests are always welcome. People often save money throughout the year to be able to afford special foods for the Christmas feast. In rural parts of Angola, families may raise animals specifically for the Christmas meal.

The traditional meal consists of 'pirão' or 'funge' (a type of polenta made from cornmeal or cassava flour), served with rice, spaghetti, french fries, turkey, fried chicken, and other dishes. Dessert is often a Bolo Rei cake, due to Angola's historical connection with Portugal. This cake is especially popular in cities.

Decorations

The main decoration in most houses is a Nativity Scene (Presépio). Other decorations, such as Christmas trees and stockings, are becoming more common.

Gift-Giving

Exchanging gifts is more common in cities than in rural areas. Large shops in the cities are decorated with lights and gift packages for the festive season.

Music and Dance

Music and dance are an indispensable part of Christmas celebrations in Angola.

Christmas traditions in Angola

Merry Christmas in Angola is 'Feliz Natal'. This is a combination of the Portuguese 'Feliz Natal' and the Angolan Lingala 'Mbotama Malamu'.

Christmas is a big celebration in Angola, with over 50% of the population being Catholic, and a further 25% being other types of Christians. The holiday is a mix of traditional African culture, popular Catholic traditions, other Christian influences, and secularism.

In Angola, Christmas begins in the church with Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, followed by Mass on Christmas Day. The main Christmas meal is eaten after the Christmas Day church service. Families with more economic resources share food with less fortunate families. Unexpected guests are always welcome, and it is a time to spend with loved ones. In the countryside, people save money throughout the year to buy special foods for the feast, such as rice, pasta, and other industrialised foods. They may also raise animals to be slaughtered at Christmas, including cows, goats, and chickens. In cities, the celebrations are more organised and structured, with people attending retreats and preparing for the baptism of children.

The main meal traditionally consists of 'pirão' or 'funge' (a type of polenta made from cornmeal or cassava flour), with rice, spaghetti, French fries, turkey, and fried chicken. Other dishes include 'calulu' (a dish of fried fish or beef with tomatoes, garlic, okra, sweet potatoes, and spinach), and 'mufete' (grilled fish served with stewed palm oil beans, sweet potato, plantain, and cassava). Dessert is often 'bolo rei' cake, a Portuguese Christmas cake made with dried fruit and nuts and topped with sugar powder and candied cherries.

Nativity scenes are very important in Angola, and most homes will have one set up in the most visible place. Some families will buy these, while others will make their own, passing them down from generation to generation. Christmas trees and stockings are also becoming more common, although they are not traditional.

Gift-giving is more prevalent in cities than in rural areas, and children in urban areas look forward to receiving presents from 'Pai Natal' (the Portuguese-speaking Santa Claus).

The history of Christmas in Angola

Christmas in Angola is a big celebration, with over 50% of the population identifying as Catholic, and another 25% identifying as Protestant or another Christian denomination.

Christianity in Angola has existed since the late 15th century, when Christian missionaries first arrived in the country. However, Christmas was not widely celebrated until the country became a Portuguese colony in 1576. The first Christmas celebrations in Angola took place in the 1590s.

Today, Christmas in Angola is a mix of Christian traditions and local culture. For example, while nativity scenes and Christmas trees are common, the decorations may be influenced by local customs and resources. In rural areas, families may not be able to afford fancy decorations, so they focus on the nativity scene as the main decoration. Some families make their own nativity scenes, while others purchase them from shopping malls.

Church attendance is an important part of Christmas in Angola, with many people attending Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and a Christmas Day Mass. The Christmas Day Mass is also broadcast on national television so that those who cannot attend in person can still participate.

The main Christmas meal is traditionally eaten after the Christmas Day church service. Families and friends gather to share a meal that includes traditional dishes such as 'pirão' or 'funge' (a type of polenta made with cornmeal or cassava flour), rice, spaghetti, french fries, turkey, fried chicken, and various side dishes. Dessert is often a Portuguese-influenced cake called Bolo Rei.

In Angola, Christmas is also a time for gift-giving, although this tradition is more common in cities than in rural areas. Children in urban areas may receive gifts from Santa Claus, known as Pai Natal in Portuguese. However, gift-giving is not as widespread in rural areas, where the focus is more on attending church and gathering with family.

Overall, Christmas in Angola is a time for family, friends, and celebrating the birth of Jesus, with unique traditions and influences from both Christian and local cultures.

Frequently asked questions