At the end of the year, the wind from the Sahara desert makes the air in Senegal dry, and the dust is flying during the day, so you need to close your doors and windowsTemperatures plummet at night, so wrap yourself in a quilt – the arrival of the dry season marks the start of the new year.
For Senegalese, New Year's Day is a rare time for family reunions, and people rush home for the New Year, regardless of work or life, as long as conditions allow. The capital, Dakar, is located in the westernmost part of Senegal, so most of the city's commuters have to head east to get home, so the road out of the city starts to get congested around Christmas. Those who have more money prefer to travel with their families, and going to Europe or North African countries for the New Year is the most popular option. In the city, the festive atmosphere fills the streets and alleys, and major shops have put out "New Year's limited goods" for customers to buy. At night, in the center of the city's Independence Square, various shapes of colorful lights flicker non-stop, attracting people's attention, and the taverns next to the square are full of people.
Dakar people are not very particular about daily meals, and most of their friends like to order a large pot of food and sit around at meal time, which is both economical and convenient for communication. But the New Year's meal should not be so "perfunctory", it must be carefully prepared.
Affected by geographical location and climatic conditions, Senegal's food and cooking habits can basically be summed up in four words: "eat the sea by the sea". Every morning, the fishermen will go out to sea in fishing boats full of colorful decorations, and the net will be very fruitful. Shellfish and sea urchins are hidden in the reefs offshore, and experienced locals can find a lot of delicious food even if they only rummage through the cracks in the rocks. Because of their existence, the fishing market by the sea is dazzling, and it is extremely affordable.
Thieboudienne is one of Senegal's most famous traditional dishes. Chefs usually use fresh sea bream, fry it in vegetable oil, serve it with garlic, chili pepper, pepper and other seasonings, and serve it with rice tossed with tomatoes. Rather than the spicy flavor of "fish rice", I prefer Yassa, another Senegalese national dish, in which chicken is marinated overnight in lemon, onion and mustard, and the next day the marinade is mixed and simmered until the soup is thick, and a spoonful is scooped into a mouthful of sweet and sour burnt. As the savannah climate is particularly suitable for livestock, there is also a popular stew based on beef and mutton, with ketchup and peanut butter being the soul of the dish.
The unique climate nourishes a large number of specialties. Driving east from Dakar, baobab trees can be found everywhere along the highway, and the untreated fruit tastes average, but when made into ice cream, it has a special aroma. Roselle is a widely cultivated cash crop for local residents, and the sun-dried calyx is said to have antihypertensive and asthma effects, and the juice is refreshing and appetizing, although locals prefer to add a lot of sugar to balance its sourness.
Due to its long colonial history, Senegalese cuisine has a distinctly French flavor, with desserts being the most affected. The process and taste of the local chocolate bread and grape bread are the same as those in mainland France. Although the dessert is made from the local area, it is finely made, sweet, and carefully presented, and it is also very French.
Naturally, the celebration of the festival is inseparable from wine. However, the vast majority of Senegalese do not drink alcohol for religious reasons, and it is the large number of immigrants who really support the alcohol consumption market. Founded in 1928, the famous Antelope Brewery Company has a distinctive Antelope logo that is a shared memory for generations. At a time when there are many foreign beer brands, Antelope has gained many loyal fans with its light taste and low price, and has occupied a place in the fiercely competitive market.
Senegalese love to dance. For them, dance is not only a way to express emotions, but also as a cultural heritage, dance also carries cultural and historical connotations, and has a profound impact on modern people's lives. Especially in important festivals such as New Year's Day, dance is an indispensable part. Accompanied by the contagious **, people danced side by side to express their feelings of joy, friendship and unity.
Senegal is a multi-ethnic country where the Wolof, Sheler, Fulani, Mandingo and others live together and can be distinguished by their dancing movements. Among all the traditional dance forms of the region, the Sabar dance, which originated from the Wolof people, is quite representative. Sabal gets its name from the dance accompaniment instrument, the sabar drum. The drum is made of wood, painted and decorated with streamers, and the drum surface is made of animal skinThe drummer beats the drum with his bare hands, sometimes intense, sometimes soothing, with a strong sense of rhythm, which sets off the dance even more moving. The dancers are dressed in flamboyant attire, with tones and patterns varying depending on the occasion. Their hair is carefully combed and usually braided;Sparkling necklaces, bracelets and earrings are a must, and every gesture adds to the brilliance;Even fans and silk scarves became part of the performance, flying up and down with the sound of drums.
In addition to the sabal drum, the kola is also a musical instrument with a high attendance rate during the New Year's Day. This instrument has 21 strings and resembles a harp, with a fresh and agile sound. Unlike the agitated drums, the chora sounds so calm that the listener can instantly feel the remoteness and tranquility of the African land. "Everyone plays the kora and beats the drum, and the red lion roars brightly" is the lyrics written by Senegal's first ** and poet Senghor for the national anthem "Play the piano, beat the drum", and the status of the kora can be seen.
However, the most characteristic New Year's celebration in the region is the first rays of sunshine on the hills of the west coast of Dakar. Here sits a group of bronze statues, 49 meters high, with a sturdy man holding a woman in his right arm and a baby in his left arm, and a family of three looking firmly at the sea. The statue, named the African Renaissance Monument, was inaugurated on 4 April 2010, Senegal's National Day. Bathed in the morning sun, a bright future is just around the corner. (This article**: Economy** Author: Lin Jiaquan).