By Lebone Rodah Mosima
As Johannesburg slips into its holiday rhythm — schools out, shopping centres buzzing, and families finally finding time in the same room – the festive season becomes less about the calendar and more about the small rituals that hold people together.
We spoke to a group of children in the city about what they’re looking forward to this festive season, the memories that still make them laugh, and the simple things they’re grateful for as 2025 comes to an end.
Sixteen-year-old Chloe said her favourite thing about Christmas is spending time with her family, having fun, receiving presents, and simply enjoying each other’s company.
“Normally we don’t have traditions, but as Zulu people, whenever the daughter is home, we slaughter a goat, a chicken, or a cow to welcome back the daughter or the son,” Chloe said.
Chloe recounted her favourite Christmas memory: travelling with her family during the festive holidays in the middle of the night when the car her father was driving got stuck in the mud.
“We had to all wake up and push the car out,” she said.
“We spent probably about five minutes pushing the car free — we ended up being late for Christmas.”
Chloe said one of her greatest gifts was a necklace from her mother, which she treasures. She also described a friendship bracelet and necklace from her closest friend as one of the most meaningful gifts she has received.
“So basically, those necklaces are like the yin and the yang, which connect two people,” she said.
For Chloe, Christmas is about family, fun, and the memories made when relatives travel from different places to celebrate together. She said the season is a chance to reconnect with loved ones she may not have seen in a while.
She’s looking forward to more sweets at Christmas and said she is still “delighted” by a recent surprise on her walk home from school. “I basically picked up R200, and I still have it!”
Sara, Queen, and two boys aged between 6 and 9 said they love the gifts, clothes, and food that come with Christmas.
They said their family traditions include trips to malls and parks, while some also look forward to spending the day in Johannesburg with home-cooked meals.
For them, some of their favourite memories are simply having family close by, and the excitement of parents buying the toys they have been hoping for.
The best gifts they have given this year? “I gave my friend a bracelet, I gave my friend a letter, I gave my friend a toy car,” they said.
They described Christmas as “always having love and happiness” in the family, enjoying each other’s company with food and presents.
And what are all of those interviewed grateful for? The love of their parents and the new friends they made in 2025, they said.
They were also thankful that none of their friends had been mean to them.
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