An Eating Christmas in the Kalahari summary helps you imagine spending Christmas day in the middle of the Kalahari desert, where temperatures can reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. This is exactly what Richard Lee did when he visited Africa in December and wrote an Eating Christmas in the Kalahari summary, which he would then turn into a famous article.
Despite the harsh conditions, Lee describes a festive and fun atmosphere that was heard by all. Lee provides a unique glimpse into how different societies celebrate Christmas. So if you’re looking for an unconventional way to spend the holidays, be sure to read this post!
Analysis of Eating Christmas in the Kalahari
In “Eating Christmas in the Kalahari,” anthropologist Richard Borshay Lee describes his experiences living with and studying the Kung San people of the Botswana desert. The Kung are a traditionally nomadic people who have, in recent years, been forced to settle in government-built villages. Despite these changes to their way of life, the Kung still maintain many traditional customs and beliefs.
One of these traditions is the celebration of Christmas. Lee would join the Kung in their Christmas festivities. He would participate in the singing and dancing, and he would also help prepare the food. The Kung would kill a goat and cook it over an open fire. Then, they would share the meat with their neighbors.
Lee describes the Kung Christmas celebration as a time of joy and togetherness. The Kung would put aside their everyday worries and focus on enjoying the company of their friends and family. This was a special time for them to bond and celebrate their culture.
Lee’s essay provides a unique perspective on the Christmas holiday. He shows that Christmas can be celebrated in many different ways and that the true meaning of the holiday is about spending time with those you love.
How to Write an Essay on Eating Christmas in Kalahari
Before you start writing your essay, it is important to understand what an essay is and its main purpose. An essay is written work that aims to express a point of view, argue a point, or inform the reader about a particular subject.
The main purpose of an essay is to persuade the reader to agree with the writer’s point of view or take action on the writer’s behalf. There are many different essays, but the most common are argumentative, persuasive, and informative.
When deciding how to write an essay, it is important to understand the purpose of your paper.
Are you trying to inform the reader about the customs of the Kalahari people, or are you attempting to argue that the 25th of December is not a time to have a Christmas feast? Once you have decided on the purpose of your essay, you can begin to plan your argument.
If you are writing an informative essay, your task will be to provide the reader with information about the customs of the Kalahari people. You will need to research the topic thoroughly and present your findings clearly and concisely. Be sure to back up your claims with evidence from reputable sources.
If you are writing a persuasive essay, your goal will be to convince the reader that Christmas is not a time for feasting. You will need to present a strong argument supported by evidence to do this. Be sure to refute any counterarguments that the reader may have.
No matter what type of essay you are writing, it is important to plan your argument ahead of time. By doing this, you will be able to organize your thoughts and present your idea.
Follow the steps below to learn how to write an essay on the article “Eating Christmas in the Kalahari.”
1. Brainstorm the main points you want to include in your essay. What are the most important things you want to communicate about Eating Christmas in the Kalahari?
2. Write a rough draft of your essay, including all the points you brainstormed. Don’t worry about making it perfect at this stage – get your thoughts down on paper.
3. Edit and revise your essay, ensuring that it is clear and concise. Address any grammar or spelling errors.
4. Once you are happy with your essay, submit it to your teacher or professor for feedback. Make any necessary revisions based on their comments.
5. Proofread your finished essay to make sure there are no errors.
What Primary Message Did Richard Lee take from the Kung in Eating Christmas in the Kalahari?
In the article “Eating Christmas in the Kalahari,” anthropologist Richard Lee describes his experiences living with and observing the Kung people in the Kalahari. One of the primary lessons that Lee took away from his time with the Kung was the importance of sharing.
The Kung are hunter-gatherer people, and their lives are built around sharing resources. When one group member kills an animal, they share the meat with the entire community. This ensures that everyone has enough to eat and no one goes hungry. Lee observed that this spirit of sharing extended to every aspect of Kung life.
What was the Basis of the Misunderstanding Experienced by Lee?
Richard Borshay Lee, an anthropologist, went to live with the Kung people in the Kalahari to study their way of life. While Lee was there, he experienced a misunderstanding that led to some humorous consequences.
His informants told Lee that the Kung people did not celebrate Christmas. So, when Lee asked a Kung man what he did on Christmas Day, the man replied that he had just eaten. Lee was surprised by this answer and asked the man what he ate on Christmas day. The man replied that he ate whatever he could find.
Lee took this to mean that the Kung people were so poor that they could not afford to buy food for Christmas. He was wrong. The Kung people had a very different view of Christmas. For them, Christmas was a time to eat as much as possible and enjoy themselves.
The misunderstanding arose because Lee did not understand the Kung concept of time. The Kung people do not divide time up into days, weeks, months, and years the way we do. For them, time is divided into the dry season and the wet season. Christmas falls during the wet season, which is a time of plenty for the Kung people. They have plenty of food to eat because they can grow crops and hunt during this time.
The Kung man Lee spoke to told him that Christmas is when food is plentiful. He wasn’t saying that the Kung people are poor.
Lee’s misunderstanding highlights the importance of cultural understanding. If he had been aware of the Kung concept of time, he would have been able to avoid the misunderstanding.
What Mistake Does Richard Lee Make when He Attempts to Offer the Kung a Christmas Gift?
Lee’s mistake when he attempts to offer the Kung a Christmas gift is that he does not understand the Kung people’s culture and customs. He mistakenly believes that the Kung people would be interested in receiving a materialistic gift when they are not.
The Kung People are more interested in sharing their own culture and traditions with others, and they would not be interested in receiving a gift that they cannot use or do not understand. This mistake highlights the importance of understanding another culture before interacting with them. It is important to learn about the customs and traditions before offering them anything. Otherwise, it is easy to make mistakes as Richard Lee did.
Why was Lee willing to Slaughter a Christmas ox for the Kung Bushmen in the Article Eating Christmas in the Kalahari?”
When Richard Lee lived with the Kung Bushmen in the Kalahari Desert, he quickly learned that they were a proud and independent native African tribe. Though they were willing to trade with him, they refused to take charity or handouts. So when Lee suggested slaughtering an ox for them as a Christmas gift, they initially refused.
But after some discussion, the Kung Bushmen decided to accept Lee’s offer. They explained that gifts were always given in their culture with the expectation of something in return. So by accepting the ox, they were entering into a partnership with Lee.
This act of kindness meant a great deal to the Kung Bushmen, and it helped to forge a strong bond between Lee and the people he was studying. In turn, Lee learned more about their unique way of life and their gathering subsistence economy.
South central Africa is a harsh environment, and the Bushmen have had to adapt to survive. By understanding the Kung’s culture and way of life, Lee was able to gain a greater appreciation for their resilience.
Conclusion
Richard Lee’s article, Eating Christmas in the Kalahari, is a fascinating look at how one man experienced Christmas while living with the San people of the Kalahari Desert. The customs and traditions that Lee encountered during his stay were unique and provided a different perspective on the holiday season.
While some Americans tend not to relate to celebrating Christmas in the desert, Lee’s Christmas story provides an interesting view of how to celebrate the holidays in a non-traditional way. Galaxygrades.com offers you a guide on how to write an excellent Eating Christmas in the Kalahari summary.
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