Eating Christmas In The Kalahari Summary

Ethnographic Assignment 3

In the ethnography, "Eating Christmas in the Kalahari," the social anthropologist, Richard Borshay Lee, studies the culture of the !Kung Bushmen. As an active participant, the author joins in the traditional ceremonial Tswana-Herero custom of killing an ox and sharing it with the members of the tribe for Christmas. He decides to buy the biggest and fattest ox available from a Herero friend. The author also tries to pass on his own culture's tradition of friendship and brotherly love through the act of gift giving. He finds that the !Kung Bushmen constantly criticize the meat he purchases and makes him feel inferior and belittle. They tell him that the ox he bought is just a bag of bones. In this ethnography, the author presents the importance of humility

As he reports conversations with his informants, Lee provides insight into the way the Bushmen think. The Bushmen realize that humans are innately selfish beings and they understand that people do not engage in acts of generosity without intentions of self-gain. Although people might not show selfish intentions humans become arrogant; therefore, the Bushman’s custom of criticizing the meat is an attempt of enforcing humility. "Eating Christmas in the Kalahari" is successful in not only teaching us about the Bushmen culture, but also about Western values. As the Bushmen are a society that strongly holds onto humility, they believe boasting leads to pride that can lead to killing people, thus badmouthing will "cool his heart and make him gentle.” American culture puts a lot of importance on the commodity and we value hard work; therefore, being grateful for a gift is an essential part of American society. Although, the Bushmen are grateful they place importance on keeping the people in