Caroling and Cookies in Zambia

 

Yesterday (Sunday) was the start of some special Christmas activities in our village.  Each day one of the houses will decorate Christmas cutout cookies.  Another house will go caroling to all the houses, ending up at our house for the cookies and juice. 

 

So yesterday I went to Mama Anne's house with dough (made the day before by Isha and Sena), rolling pin, flour, cookie cutters and colored sugar and sprinkles.  It was a wonderful time.  The kids took turns, and were so pleasant and sweet about it all.  At the end I gave a pan of cutouts to Anne to decorate, who hadn't ever done that before even though she is in her 40s. 

 

Then around 7:00 I could hear singing coming from the houses behind us.  There was clapping and excited noises.  Eventually the children came to our verandah.  I had all the lights out except the colored ones on the tree, and candles on our table.  Everyone got a few cookies and juice and we sat around the table.  Then we sat near the tree and I read a story.  To end the evening, we turned on the lights and Sena brought out the 10 puppies for the children to hold and pet.  With 10 puppies, no one was left out!!!

 

I'm looking forward to the next 3 nights when we will repeat last night's activities with another house.