Christmas on Tristan 2025
Report and photos from Philip Kendall
It could be said that the Christmas season on Tristan starts with the arrival of last ship of the year, which this time was the MFV Lance on the 22nd November, bringing the last fresh produce and supplies for the island's supermarket. Everyone also hopes that the Christmas mail will include presents ordered months previously as well as cards and gifts from family and friends overseas. Things get busier in December as people prepare for the Christmas and New Year break, when all but the most essential services shut down for three weeks. That includes no supermarket and no pub, so the shop gets especially busy before it closes.
Christmas mail being brought ashore from the MFV Lance.
Carol Service
Christmas activities proper started in the third week of December. The first event was a Nine Lessons and Carols service at St Mary's Church on Sunday 14th December, attended by both the Anglican and Catholic congregations.
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Readers of the lessons at the Carol Service (clockwise from top left): Barry Thacker, Ian Lavarello, Louise Kendall, Anne Green & Simon Glass. |
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School Show
Monday the 15th December was the day of the School's Christmas Show, held in the hall at St Mary's School.
Administrator Philip Kendall thanks the school pupils for their hard work and their wonderful show.
The island store closed on the 16th December, which happened also to be the day when the expedition yacht SV Urchin called to drop off the Inaccessible Island flax eradication team. They will be working there until February.
Pensioners' Christmas Party
The annual pensioner's Christmas party took place in Prince Philip Hall on Wednesday the 17th December.
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| Tristan's pensioners playing bingo at their Christmas party, and one of the lucky winners, Ches Lavarello. | |
The Albatross Bar closed on the 18th December. By now departmental workers were busy completing their business before Break-up Day on the 19th, when office parties and braais are held and everyone lets their hair down.
Contract Work Continues
After Break-up Day, life in the settlement normally quietens down. This year however, there are two teams of contractors on the island who will continue working through the summer break upgrading electrical systems and resurfacing the roads.
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| Digging up the old, damaged road surface. | Pouring new concrete. |
A completed new section of road.
Midnight Masses
Midnight masses were held at both churches on Christmas Eve.
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| Nativity scenes displayed at St Mary's and St Joseph's churches. | |
Christmas Day
Christmas itself was a day for family meals, including the traditional stuffed roast mutton. A Christmas meal for expatriates was hosted at the Residency by the Administrator Philip Kendall and his wife Louise.
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| Louise Kendall lays out Christmas dinner and desserts. | |
Tucking in to Christmas dinner at the Residency.
Relaxing after Christmas dinner at the Residency.
Rest of the Break
For the rest of the holiday, families will be spending time out at the Patches and Runaway Beach, or maybe camping further afield at the Bluff or on the south of the island. Most people will be in the settlement for Old Year's Night, when the Okalolies will be out and about during the day, and the Admin and Chief Islander will be holding parties in the evening.
Thereafter, everyone can relax until the 12th January, when people go back to work and everywhere reopens except for the school, which reopens a week later.