Celebrating Christmas in Papua New Guinea

Thursday, 24 December 2020

With the hibiscus and poinciana in flower and the scent of frangipani in the air, Christmas in Papua New Guinea is a truly tropical affair.

As a nation that has been heavily influenced by the arrival of Christian missionaries, PNG marks the festive season with distinct spirituality, combining religious traditions with the opportunity to celebrate as a community and come together with family.

Here’s a brief snapshot of celebrating Christmas in Papua New Guinea.

A hot humid December

Like Australia, Papua New Guinea marks Christmas during the summer, with the daily temperature averaging 32.4 degrees, and the rainfall on the rise. Although it’s not quite the heart of the wet season, the humidity is high, and the gardens are in full boom with the aroma of tropical flowers drifting through the air.

Religious occasion

The concept of Christmas arrived in Papua New Guinea with the missionaries about 200 years ago and it’s a celebration that has rapidly spread. While not all villages embrace Christmas, it is widely acknowledged and is marked with a public holiday.

The Christian influence sees churches around the nation filled to capacity on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, while the sounds of carols resonate in the streets and shopping malls.

In many ways, Christmas in PNG mirrors that in Australia, featuring the lively ambience of family gatherings, and a Christmas Day feast.

Although gift giving is a feature in some households, it’s not as commonplace in Papua New Guinea as it is in western countries, and Santa tends to rate little mention. Instead the focus is more on family celebrations with church and the Christmas Day feast the big highlights of the day.

That said, there are some western traditions creeping in, including carols by candlelight and Christmas lights, which can be found twinkling on a summer’s eve around major cities like Port Moresby.

Christmas Day foods

Papua New Guinea is a place that relishes a community celebration, and Christmas provides the perfect occasion to come together with family and friends for a feast.

Papua New Guinea Christmas fare includes pork, vegetables like sweet potatoes, rice, and pudding. In some villages the meal is cooked using traditional methods like an earth oven known as a mumu.

Meanwhile, the upscale restaurants of Port Moresby offer a nod to traditional western fare, with many devising special Christmas menus featuring seafood, roast turkey, and ore.

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