The South-North volunteer Colette Boateng has just experienced the Christmas season in Germany and compares it with that in Togo.

Christmas, which is celebrated in Togo on 25 December, commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. This period is marked by numerous religious and commercial activities. In Togo, merchants prepare early to sell toys and Christmas decorations. The main streets of the capital, Lomé, are decorated and illuminated from the beginning of December. Fairs such as the International Fair of Lomé attract many visitors. Businesses use this time for special offers and promotional activities, and the Assigamé market is particularly busy.

Churches organise services and nativity plays, and leisure activities bring young and old together.

In Germany, I felt the Christmas atmosphere very early: posters for theatre performances, Christmas markets, decorated houses, and celebrations such as St. Martin are part of it. Families, friends, and colleagues exchange gifts. I received my first Advent calendar from my mentor Annette Quade, and then another from the NM team – a tradition I had not known before. The Café Wednesday team of the Horner parish, which organises a breakfast for the needy once a week and where I volunteer, also gave me a hand-knitted sock filled with chocolate for St. Nicholas Day, which is celebrated here every year on 6 December.

In Togo, Christmas is primarily a children’s festival. New Year’s Eve – called “St. Sylvester” here – is celebrated more by adults. It is a family festival, marked by shared meals, gatherings, and exchanging wishes for the new year.

And so I also wish you a happy new year 2026!