Unwrap the magic: South African celebrities share their most heart-warming Christmas traditions

Celebrate the joy of Christmas through the eyes of South Africa's finest and find inspiration for your own festive celebrations

The "Independent Media Lifestyle" team connected with these celebrities to discover their distinct Christmas traditions, ranging from moving family get-togethers to one-of-a-kind cultural festivities.

Whether it's traditional feasts, vibrant decorations, or cherished family rituals, get an exclusive glimpse into the holiday traditions that make this season truly magical for our favourite icons.

Chanel Brink -  "MasterChef South Africa" season 5 second runner-up

What is one Christmas tradition you never skip, no matter how busy you are?

There is one Christmas tradition I never skip, no matter how busy life becomes, and that is making a Christmas pudding. It is never just a recipe in my family and is an event rather. One that gathers everyone together and marks the true beginning of the festive season.

I remember being small and arriving at my grandmother’s house, where the table would already be laid out with bowls of ingredients waiting patiently. Each grandchild was given a task, whether it was chopping, peeling or grating.

Someone would carefully measure, my mother would prepare the spices, my grandfather would zest the lemons, and everyone, without exception, had to take a turn stirring the pudding. It was our tradition.

In my own home today, I still honour that tradition. We make our pudding at the end of November, giving it time to soak, mature and deepen in flavour. On Christmas morning, we wake up early to share the first slice. It is rich, comforting and filled with nostalgia and a reminder that some traditions are worth holding onto, year after year.

How did your family celebrate Christmas while you were growing up, and do you still carry those traditions today?

On the first of December, the decorations would come out, instantly igniting our excitement for the season ahead. A large Christmas tree would go up in the lounge, and decorating it was a family affair.

My sister and I would inevitably argue over who got to place the star on top. It was a small moment that felt incredibly important at the time. Christmas lunch was always held at my grandmother’s house and never strayed from the classics.

A perfectly roasted leg of lamb, crispy roasted potatoes, broccoli and cauliflower gratin and of course, the infamous trifle waiting for dessert. While I still carry many of these traditions with me today, I have also started creating my own ones that I hope to pass down someday.

Tradition grounds us all, but creating new traditions allows us to leave a piece of ourselves behind for the next generation. Each Christmas, I return to the familiar classic dishes I grew up with, but I allow myself to change them slightly and put a bit of my personality into them.

I like to change up the seasonings or cooking technique. I respect the classics and the hands that taught me these dishes, but I am also gently adding in my own personal touches to them.

Is there a specific Christmas meal or dish that feels like home to you?

If there is one dish that truly tastes like home on Christmas Day, it is my gran's crab curry. Alongside the traditional roast and all the trimmings, there is always a seafood curry, which is a nod to our heritage and the coastal place we call home, which is Durban.

The smell of onions and curry leaves frying would fill the house and instantly make my mouth water. That aroma alone could tell you it was Christmas in our home!

Christmas for me isn't just about the food on the table. It's also about the memories that go into creating the food that goes on the table. It also gives me time to reflect while cooking and thank God for the gift of family and the ability for us to share a meal around the table.

Lenore Goss-Matjie - reality TV star from "The Mommy Club: Sugar and Spice"

How are you planning to spend Christmas this year?

This Christmas, my family and I will be spending time intentionally slowing down and leaning into what truly matters: family, connection and rest.

This year was extremely demanding, so I’m looking forward to a festive season that feels grounded, rather than rushed. It will be about sharing meals prepared by our head chef, my eldest daughter Meah and her assistant chefs, my children Alessandro and Jiyaana, which include classic breyani, curries, topped off with trifle and peppermint tart. (Nobody wants my “airfryer specials”).

Our five furies (dalmations) already have their outfits ready for the festivities and quality family time.  I intend to have family catch-up conversations that stretch long into the evening, moments of laughter, music playing softly in the background, and simply being present with the people I love most.

Is Christmas more of a quiet family affair or a big celebration for you?

Christmas has evolved into a quieter, more intimate family affair for my family and me. While there’s still plenty of food, joy and celebration, it’s no longer about big crowds or elaborate plans for parties, etc.

Christmas is about creating a warm, safe space, where my family and maybe one or two close friends will feel welcome, relaxed and connected. That sense of togetherness is what makes the celebration feel rich and complete for me.

Do you have any Christmas traditions you absolutely can't skip?

Decorating the Christmas tree in the first week of December as a family is a tradition we NEVER skip. It marks the official start of Christmas in our home. 

What began as a childhood ritual has now become a full-day family experience, and my children invite their friends over, we play Christmas carols that fill the house, there are sing-alongs, dancing and lots of laughter.

We end the day watching Christmas movies and ordering take-out, creating memories that feel just as magical now as they did when I was a child.

Where will you be spending Christmas Day this year?

We had intended to travel abroad this year, but opted to spend Christmas Day this year at home in Durban. Our home will be the heart of our celebrations.

There’s something incredibly special about creating a festive atmosphere in your own space, where every corner carries familiarity, comfort and love. There is no place like home.  Home will allow us to celebrate in a way that feels authentic, relaxed and deeply meaningful.

Has the way you celebrate Christmas changed over the years?

Very much so. Growing up, Christmas felt magical and abundant, with twinkling lights, wrapped gifts stacked under the tree, the aroma of biryani, curries, roasts and desserts filling the house, and large family gatherings at my grandmother’s home. 

Today, while the scale has shifted, the essence and magic of Christmas remain. It’s less about grandeur and more about intention. The joy is quieter, but deeper. No more large crowds of family and friends that you hardly see or are in contact with.

What does Christmas mean to you at this stage of your life?

At this stage of my life, Christmas is a time of gratitude and reflection. It’s about acknowledging growth, resilience and the beauty of shared journeys. It’s also about creating a sense of continuity, passing down traditions, values and love to my children, so that they too, carry these moments with them into the future. 

Is there a special childhood Christmas memory that still makes you smile?

My special childhood Christmas memory that always makes me smile is the excitement of decorating the Christmas tree at the start of December, the glittering tinsel, porcelain ornaments, fairy lights and that unmistakable feeling that Christmas had officially arrived.

Christmas mornings spent opening gifts before church, followed by afternoons filled with laughter, stories, and bowls of Christmas pudding (even though I didn’t enjoy it much), especially knowing there might be money hidden inside, remain some of my most cherished memories. Those moments still shape how I create Christmas magic for my own family today.

Jade McGowan - "Uzalo" actress

How are you and your family going to celebrate Christmas this year?

First things first, it’s church in the morning. Then we have lunch, and this Christmas, we will be hosting at my house, so some family and friends are coming over.

Christmas is also about food, so what are some of the meals that are on the menu this year?

We will have a braai and a variety of foods because it’s Christmas. On the menu, we have things like lasagna, crab and the famous Christmas dessert, the peppermint tart.

She also added that they spend the day playing fun Christmas games and challenges.

What are some of your family’s Christmas traditions?

Usually, what we always do on Christmas is to make extra food and give it out to people. It has always been a tradition that we always do,” she excitedly shared.

The former “Generations: The Legacy” actress further added that Christmas is all about love and family, so it’s important to highlight that aspect during this time of the year to keep the Christmas spirit alive.

Meanwhile, Cape Town’s DJ Masoodah, a Good Hope FM presenter who is newly engaged, gave fans a peek into her festive celebrations this KeDezemba. “Every year at Christmas we try and do different things but still keep in tradition,” she says.

She splits the day between her family and her fiancé’s. “Christmas is spent the first half of the day with my family and the other half with my fiancé’s family. Or vice versa,” she laughs.

Traditions change year to year. Sometimes it’s Christmas Eve dinner at her aunt’s house, other times a big Christmas Day lunch. Last year featured Secret Santa at her fiancé’s family, but this year they’re keeping it simple. “We’ll have a calm luncheon, eat delicious roasts, curries, salads & desserts,” she shares.

Music is a must, of course. Masoodah keeps the playlist running all day and even created a Christmas medley on YouTube last year. And gifts? They’re unwrapped with crackers popped, alongside a moment to remember loved ones who are no longer with them. “We unwrap gifts, pop some crackers, and stay in remembrance of our lost loved ones,” she says.

For Masoodah, Christmas is about blending family, food, music and memories, keeping tradition alive while enjoying the holidays her way.