FIRST things first. Disclaimer: I’m not going to delve into the story of an ancient locale called Bethlehem and the birth of a noble man in a not-so-noble family. I’m not trained to do that kind of thing.

On the contrary, I can give you a nice Christmas gift by sticking to the festive part of the day. For, this blesses both the believers and the non-believers. Or so it used to be.

My assertion is that Christmas in those bygone days of scarcity and moderation used to be more special and more enjoyable than these days of abundance and opulence.

I’ll give this piece a light touch on how we raise Gen Zs and Gen Alphas compared to how we Gen Xs and our predecessor the boomers grew up. 

The big day 

Before Gen Zs made their grand entrance into this world between 1995 and 2010, the world was not only different technologically but also in celebrating Christmas.  

Scarcity is known to add value to things, events, situations, etc. Before mobile phones, the internet and flat screen TV sets in almost every living room, Christmas was the only day to live large and remember it until another Christmas.

Nice, new clothes

All parents and guardians knew – and never forgot – their duty to ensure that children had their nice, new clothes to be worn on Christmas day.

Budget-conscious parents did this as early as August, latest October, just to dodge non-God-fearing shop owners who would double or triple the prices of clothes and shoes in December to make a killing a few days before Christmas.

The rule was clear on the Christmas clothes and shoes bought well before Christmas: wash and iron but don’t wear until Christmas.

But in these days of abundance, parents just walk into shopping malls any day of their choice and buy nice new clothes for their children for no reason at all. Imagine children having their own wardrobes in their own rooms full of new clothes, some of which they go the whole year without wearing!

Good, rare Christmas meal

For those of us born and raised in the Lake Victoria Zone, Christmas was that blessed day when we took mandatory break from ugali with Nile perch or sardines. On this day, we would devour big juicy pieces of a well-fed lamb or bull served with rice. 

That towering hen or cock that was always a preserve of well-respected in-laws was our meal on Christmas. Once a year, adults allowed children to take leave from the dry chicken legs, wings and necks to enjoy juicy breasts and thighs. 

Of course, Christmas breakfast was not porridge. Delicious Christmas chapatis – call them pancakes if you will – were served with hot full-cream milk. In fact, sometimes it was chapatis, maandazi (buns) and rice. You touch here and there like a prince or princes, thanks to Christmas.

Fast forward to 2024 and juicy meat and aromatic rice is a daily meal. And there is this neighbour of mine who thinks she has the right to disturb my nose with that strong, nice spiced pilau every evening. Imagine someone cooking pilau every day for no reason at all!

Cash, sweets and other gifts

Unlike Gen Zs and Gen Alpha (born 2010-2020), we the Gen X managed with whatever little was available. We were not permitted to beg or demand things from relatives or strangers.

However, there was exception on Christmas day: we were allowed to ask for cash gifts with which we spoiled ourselves with soda, biscuits, sweets and other treats. Most boys and girls from humble backgrounds enjoyed the taste of soda or ice cream only on Christmas day.

That was then – and this is 2024. Most parents stock crates of soda (and beer) that never run out. Our refrigerators are full of fatty and sugary foods and treats for our children to enjoy an abuse in some cases.

When Christmas was still Christmas, we would visit families and friends and share meals. Those who lived in cities because of work would return to their rural homes complete with their families for Christmas reunion.

These days most of us identify ourselves as urbanites. We have made cities our permanent homes and we have lost connections with our extended families, great ancestors and roots in general.

Going back home in December ‘to eat’ Christmas, which used to be a tradition for many communities in Tanzania, is nowadays a thing of – and for – the Chagga people. If you are back to Kilimanjaro and are reading this piece, order a big mug of mbege (that popular traditional brew) on me. I’ll foot that bill come January.   

Out with friends

In the late afternoon, after enjoying the sumptuous Christmas lunch, outing was a must. In our village, we used to gather at a nearby trading centre to spend cash collected from parents and relatives on soda, bubble gums, biscuits and other treats. 

In Dar es Salaam, a trip to the beach was a must on Christmas afternoon. Those from well-to-do families were chauffeured there in private cars. Others came together in groups and hired minibuses. I and several buddies used to trek from Mwananyamala to Coco Beach. It was a wonderful site to behold. 

But some folks have since made beach trips a daily affair instead of a Christmas thing. Daily trip to the beach! Are you a penguin?

Cards and Christmas trees

The colourful Christmas wishes cards addressed you as Dear so-and-so. Who has called you dear this Christmas? How many Christmas messages have you received? You have WhatsApp and Facebook messages? Poor thing!

In the good bygone days, come December, Christmas cards and Christmas trees were the biggest money minters alongside cassette tapes with Christmas songs such as Jingle Bells.

Now we are in the era of plastic Christmas ‘trees’ imported from the Far East that can be used, packed back in the box and be reused for even ten Christmases!  Real Christmas tree growers are out of business.

Digital natives 

The ‘Z’ in the name Gen Z means ‘zoomer’ as this is the first generation known to ‘zoom’ the internet. Also known as digital natives, Gen Zs and Gen Alphas have grown up with screens and mobile handsets in their homes, meaning that they have no memory of analogue life.

Although they are tech savvy and have lots of learning opportunities, this also means that their screen time is more than play time – and so they are prone to anxiety and online gaming addiction. 

In the good days gone by, even those in privileged families would only enjoy 30 minutes or so of Tom & Jerry – largely thanks to the then legendary CTN, which used to link up with American cable television channel Cartoon Network.

Before the onset of the flat screen, that rear-projection television set in the living room was usually fixed inside a cabinet – complete with a padlock. It was switched on by carefully chosen and vetted individuals in the house – and only at known times.

But 2024 caught up with us, when flat screen TV is a must-have asset, and the Gen Zs and Alphas are spoiled for choices. They normally start the day with the boisterous Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, PJ Masks and Swashbuckle before slowing it down a bit with Twirlywoos after which they watch Bluey and Om Nom. The list is endless…

It’s really good entertainment, infotainment and edutainment for our children and grandchildren – but too much of anything is harmful. I personally know many families where parents don’t dare even touch the remote control; it belongs to children.

Gen Alpha folks are even overly bold: they want their show on whether they are watching or not. Unless Tanesco decides otherwise with electricity, the TV is on all day in most houses I know.

Experts meanwhile warn that, for preteens, excessive screen time can lead to behaviour disorders known as conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder.

A recent study found that playing video games and watching online videos are linked to developing obsessive-compulsive disorder. 

So? Now, now: So let’s allow our children and grandchildren to enjoy technology but with moderation. Merry Christmas.

• Songa wa Songa is a senior journalist with The Guardian newspaper. He can be reached at [email protected]