For many South Africans, Christmas is less about spectacle and more about who’s around the table. This year, some of the country’s best-known names are reminding us why those simple moments matter most.
Johannesburg, South Africa (24 December 2025) – As the year draws to a close and the country settles into festive mode, familiar faces are stepping away from studios, stages and schedules. What they’re choosing instead feels refreshingly relatable: family tables, childhood rituals, rest, reflection and time together.
And in sharing how they’re spending Christmas, they’re offering gentle reminders of what really gives the season its meaning.
For Jonathan Boynton-Lee, Christmas is anchored in tradition. The TV personality and filmmaker finds joy in the predictability of a day that has looked the same for years and that’s exactly what makes it special.
“Christmas is always the same. In the morning it’s mom’s freshly baked mince pies and sitting around the tree opening presents. Then later we share a Christmas lunch together at my sister’s house,” he says.
For Jonathan, the magic isn’t in doing something new. It’s in returning to the same moments, year after year, and finding comfort in shared history and connection.
For Nomuzi ‘Moozlie’ Mabena, the festive season is a chance to pause after a full year of momentum. Christmas becomes less about celebration and more about presence.
“Christmas for me is all about slowing down and being present. It’s a time I really cherish with my family. Sharing good food, lots of laughter, and moments that remind me of what truly matters,” she explains.
“I use this time to rest, reflect on the year that’s been, and reset for what’s ahead. Christmas reminds me to lead with love, kindness, and appreciation.”
It’s a lekker reminder that rest is not something we squeeze in when there’s time, it’s something we choose, intentionally.
Jacaranda FM’s Martin Bester is spending Christmas in the Eastern Cape, embracing a slower pace and a wide-open landscape. For him, the festive season is about catching up… in more ways than one.
“Christmas, for me, is all about catching up,” he says. “Catching up on sleep, but also catching up with family and friends.”
With a big Christmas table planned in the Karoo, Martin is looking forward to fresh air, time to reflect, and a chance to reset.
“It was a great year for ‘Breakfast With Martin Bester’ on Jacaranda FM and I am looking forward to coming back with a clear head in 2026.”
Sometimes, the most productive thing you can do is stop.
For content creator and entrepreneur Chad Jones, switching off completely isn’t always possible but Christmas still holds its own rhythm.
“Christmas as a content creator and entrepreneur means that you never get leave!” he admits. “However, on Christmas, I make sure that I spend time with my family (and take the opportunity to shoot some videos with them!).”
A huge family braai, eating throughout the day and celebrating together are all part of the tradition.
“We love this time of year, celebrating the festivities of the season and taking a step back to spend some time with those important to us.”
For radio personality Bolele Polisa, Christmas is layered with memory and meaning, rooted in traditions that have followed her from childhood into adulthood.
“Christmas has always been a really special time for me and my family,” she says. “One of our favourite traditions is waking up just before sunrise on Christmas morning and going outside to watch the sun ‘dance’.”
Food plays its own important role in bringing everyone together.
“We always end up at my aunt’s house for Christmas lunch, cooking all the different ‘colours’ together,” Bolele explains. “I’m looking forward to the gammon, the homemade bread, the cornbread, all the salads and, of course, the roasted lamb.”
Whether it’s around a Karoo table, a childhood home, or a backyard braai, Christmas in South Africa has a heartbeat of its own. It lives in shared plates, old stories and laughter that carries long after the food is finished.
And that feeling, the one that feels like home, is something worth holding onto.
Merry Christmas Eve South Africa!
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