In typical African settings, wine, particularly the red brand, is primordial during important traditional ceremonies. In the Fang-Beti clan, for example, a newly constructed house is inaugurated by pouring red wine on the roof. Also, wine is never absent from bride prize or dowry lists. On their part, newly promoted soldiers have their epaulets “blessed” with drops of Champagne.
With the advent of civilization, many people, especially men, attach respect and honour to gifts of wine and champagne. Huge tons of these drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) will be exchanged during the 2019 end-ofyear feasts including Christmas, New Year eve and New Year Day. It is the season, where dealers in low, high and very high quality wine (red and white) and champagne make brisk business across the world.
Binge drinking hits the apex during this period. Three hundred and sixty (360) million glasses of champagne or sparkling wine, according to research done by WalletHub in 2017, were consumed on New Year’s Eve to celebrate the change from the old year to the New Year at midnight. Celebration in Cameroon also takes the form of boozing sprees with toasts of wine and champagne. Like in the yesteryears, the colour of feasting will still be rosy this year. Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year.
