I still remember my first Christmas in Johannesburg like it was yesterday — and honestly, I spent most of it in tears. It just didn’t feel like Christmas. There were no work parties, no Christmas lights twinkling down the high street, and no carols on the radio. By the time I’d found out when the local carol services were happening, they were over — because (top tip!) the whole of Joburg shuts down the moment the schools break up, which is usually right at the start of December!

Coming from the Northern Hemisphere, it was hard to imagine Christmas without snow, woolly jumpers, or hot chocolate. But in South Africa, the festive season falls in the middle of summer, which means swapping snowflakes for sunshine, scarves for swimsuits, and mulled wine for an ice-cold glass of rosé by the pool.

And here’s the thing — it’s actually wonderful.

🎄 A South African Christmas: Sunshine, Surfboards & Braais

Fast forward a few years, and Christmas in South Africa has become one of our absolute favourite traditions. Every December, the whole family piles into the car, surfboards, swimming costumes, and way too many snacks. It’s chaotic, loud, and totally perfect (apart from the year we forgot the Christmas stockings!). Our 12- 18hr road trip has become part of the December ritual, to unpack the year, slowly unwind, and so when we arrive, we are ready for our holiday!

Unlike back home, the focus isn’t on presents or parties, it’s on switching off completely (which did take me a while to get used too). From around 16th December to 9th January, the country goes into holiday mode. Emails stop, meetings disappear, and life slows down beautifully. Only by mid-January, everyone is just easing back into routine.

It’s the kind of deep rest we never really got in the UK, and now I can’t imagine the holidays any other way.

Our Family’s New Christmas Traditions

Living in Johannesburg has given us a chance to create our own festive rituals. We’ve swapped roast turkey for prawns on the braai and Christmas pudding for Malva pudding (a South African classic!). Some years we eat outside under the stars, other years we head to the coast for a beach picnic, bacon rolls in the boat, hoping to see some Lions, and always with our Christmas hats on!

Because the focus here is the holiday season itself, our kids have grown up with a Christmas that’s far less commercialised. The day is all about friends, family, sunshine, food and of course, opening presents after an early morning swim (or last year an early morning hike up Table Mountain!)

Don’t Miss the Early Christmas Events in Joburg

One thing to remember: since most people leave Joburg early for the coast, all the best Christmas events and markets happen in November. If you wait until mid-December to start Googling “carol concerts near me” (like I did my first year!), you’ll miss them.

Here are some of my favourite Christmas events in Johannesburg to add to your diary:

- 🎭 The Pantomime at Joburg Theatre – Always full of laughter and fun. Click here for more info.

- 🎁 Local Christmas Markets – Linden (29–30 Nov), Parkview (21–23 Nov), Kamers St Davids 25th - 30th Nov, Field Market (8 Nov & 13 Dec). Bryanston Organic Market – Beautiful night markets throughout December.

- ✨ Melrose Arch Christmas Lights – Switch-on event on 14 November (absolutely magical).

- 🎵 Carols by Candlelight with the Drakensberg Boys Choir – 16 November, one of my highlights every year.

- 🎶 Sandton Square Carols – 21 November, bring a picnic blanket and soak up the festive spirit.

☕ Want to Join Us This Festive Season?

If you’re new to Johannesburg and want to make the most of the expat Christmas experience, come along to some of these events with us! We share what’s happening across the city (and who’s going) in our Beyond Coffee WhatsApp group — it’s a great way to meet other expats and explore Johannesburg together.

🌍 Final Thoughts

Christmas in South Africa might look completely different from the one you grew up with — no snow, no dark afternoons, no heavy coats. But what you get instead is a Christmas full of warmth, laughter, sunshine, and connection.

Whether you’re spending it at the beach, around a braai, or under the fairy lights at Melrose Arch, one thing’s for sure: you’ll never forget your first South African Christmas.

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