Pasaka Kenya

It was the day before Pasaka (Easter) when Kevin asked me about how people in Kenya celebrate Easter and some of the things they do. So the following is part of the questions and answers that we discussed.

Kevin: Wakenya wanasherekea Pasaka?

Do Kenyans celebrate Easter?

Halako: Unaniuliza? Hata wewe unajua.

You're asking me? You know!

Kevin: Si nauliza?

I'm asking you, aren't I?

Halako: Si unajua.

But you know!

Wanasherekea sana. Hasa wanaenda Friday na Sunday. Hata wengine walianza kusherekea jana pia. Wanaimba, wanaongea mambo ya siku za mwisho za Kristo kabla ya kusulubiwa na kufa kwa dhambi zetu.

They really celebrate it. They even go (to church) on Friday and Sunday. Others even began to celebrate yesterday (Thursday) as well. They sing, they talk about the last days of Christ, before he was crucified and died for our sins.

Kevin: Na wakitolewa kanisani, watafanya nini?

And when they're let out of church, what do they do?

Halako: Wanaenda nyumbani kula chakula kilichoandaliwa. Kwa wale wanaojiweza, watapika chakula tofauti, ambacho pengine hakiliwi kila siku. Wale ambao hawana “dough,” watakula kile watakachopata. Kati ya Wakristo hufunga saumu mpaka hiyo siku wanapofungua.

They go home to eat food that has been prepared. For those who are able, they will cook different foods, like something that isn't normally eaten every day. For those who don't have any cash, they will eat whatever they can get. Some Christians fast until that day when they will break the fast.

Kevin: Wanafungua siku gani?

On what day do they break fast?

Halako: Nafikiri Jumapili. Ni siku arobaini baada ya hii siku ya kufunga.

I think it's Sunday. It's forty days after they began to fast.

Kevin: Siku ya Lent, si ndiyo?

That's Lent, right?

Halako: Eh.

Yeah.

Kevin: Watu watakuja kutoka mbali kukusanyika kwa Pasaka?

Do people come from far to gather together for Easter?

Halako: Inategemea. Kama saa hii watu wengi wametoka Nairobi kwenda nyumbani. Wengine wanakaribisha watu kwa chakula.

It depends. Like at this time (Friday afternoon) many people have left Nairobi to go home. Others will invite people for food.

Kevin: Kwa watoto, wanafanya nini?

And for children, what do they do?

Halako: Watoto pia wanasherekea. Wananunuliwa nguo, wanasikia raha. Wanatembezwa.

Children also celebrate. They're bought clothes, they feel happy. They're taken places.

Kevin: Kwa wale ambao si Wakristo?

And for those people who aren't Christians?

Halako: Wanasherekea lakini hawaendi kanisani. Hata wengine wataenda tu kwa hiyo siku moja. Saa hii hakuna ofisi ambayo imefunguliwa. Watu wako “off” mpaka Tuesday. Ni siku ambayo inajaliwa sana kwa sababu ni siku Yesu alipokufa.

They celebrate but they don't go to church. Even others will go just for that one day. There's no offices now that have been opened. People are off until Tuesday. It's a day that's really respected because it's they day when Jesus died.