Eating Christmas In The Kalahari Analysis

In “Eating Christmas in the Kalahari” we are given an inside view of what a social anthropologist experienced while celebrating a tradition in another culture. In American culture Christmas is celebration of God, spending time with family members, and giving gifts to one another. On the other hand, in the Bushmen’s tradition they gather the biggest ox to offer to their people, and have a celebration. As a man from a different culture, Lee wanted to give the Bushmen’s one of the largest ox he could find in order to show his appreciation, and thank everyone for welcoming him into their land. After he gives the people a big ox he is taunted, and put down for not having a larger ox. He was told he was being inconsiderate to the people for not getting a large one that could feed everyone in the land.

He asked one his close Bushmen friend’s to explain the reasons as to why the other Bushmen treated him badly. Moral of the story, in the Bushmen’s culture it is okay to make fun, and belittle one another when it comes to providing food and other life essentials. The reason these men do such taunting is to make the individual become more humble. In America, people tend to inflate their ego, and have a sense that they are better than anyone else if they can do something someone else cannot. Humility is what the Bushmen want to establish in their culture, and anyone who comes along to join them. In their eyes everyone should be treated equally. So, although Lee did provide a good enough of an ox for the Bushmen, he learned that no matter how much we provide for someone we should not feel entitled or expect anything in