Christmas celebrations in Malawi bring joy, economic challenges for families

Malawi: It’s Christmas time, and all the roads leading to the main cities of Malawi are filled with families in high spirits, on their way to do their holiday shopping, writes Jorge Thawe.

For many, Christmas is a time for buying new clothes for their children and having a special meal, often consisting of rice and chicken with Fanta.

However, for some in the cities, the high prices of rice and chicken can make Christmas feel like just any other day.

The high demand for chicken during the holiday season has caused prices to rise, according to Themba Phiri, a vendor at the Kawale market in Lilongwe.

While many businesses in Malawi tend to lower their prices on their products during the Christmas period, the market can still dictate higher prices for certain items.

On Christmas Day, Malawians typically begin the day with a short church service, before returning home to continue celebrations with their families.

Christmas is a worldwide holiday, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ and is observed by billions of people around the globe.

It is a public holiday in many countries and is celebrated by both Christians and non-Christians alike.

The first recorded celebration of Christmas on December 25th took place in 336 during the reign of Roman Emperor Constantine, who was the first Christian Roman Emperor.

While the reasons for celebrating Christmas on this date are varied and debated, it has become an integral part of the holiday season.