Chapter 598: New Year
In the blink of an eye, it was once again New Year in East Africa.
"Whoosh…"
At the central square of First Town City, neatly arranged fireworks were ignited one by one, then instantly blossomed in the pitch-black sky. Many families gathered together to enjoy the colorful fireworks display.
With no industrial pollution, the sky over First Town was exceptionally clear, the stars dazzling. The fireworks blended with the Milky Way, creating a beautiful and pleasing sight.
The only regret was the absence of firecrackers, so the atmosphere was slightly lacking. But for East African citizens whose daily lives were rather monotonous, being able to watch fireworks on New Year's Eve was already satisfying.
"This is the first time I've seen a fireworks display during New Year in East Africa. Seems like the country's economy is really improving—there used to be nothing here, and now we've got all kinds of celebrations!"
Fireworks technology in Europe had originated from the Mongol invasions and was introduced from the Far East. It became popular in Europe quickly, and as early as the 16th century, regions like Italy had begun manufacturing them. After centuries of development, it was nothing new.
In contrast, fireworks production in East Africa had only started in 1878. After two years of growth, it had finally taken shape, which is why many older immigrants felt so emotional after watching the display.
East Africa only had one fireworks factory, located in Mbeya City. Since fireworks weren't widely used in East Africa and were mostly purchased by the government, few individuals ever bought them. Fireworks were usually reserved for holidays and celebrations.
Thus, one factory in Mbeya supplied the entire country's demand. The fireworks industry would only grow if residents' incomes increased or if East Africa loosened economic controls.
That evening, dozens of East African cities held fireworks displays, including First Town, Soga, Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo, Mombasa, Mbeya, Nairobi, Harare… Essentially, every economically strong city had a show.
Strong cities were defined as the capital, provincial capitals, and other economically developed urban centers. These cities had prepared fireworks in advance. Mbeya, centrally located and a transport hub, had convenient supply access.
In weaker cities or rural areas, there were still local or government-organized festivities. More commonly, families gathered for a New Year's Eve dinner. Since East Africa had many mixed-race households, New Year celebrations had real flair.
Compared to Christmas five days earlier, New Year's Day felt far more festive and lively, offering a great emotional release from a year's worth of stress.
This is easy to understand—Christmas is a religious holiday. In the 19th century, religious believers were still quite devout, so Christmas had a more solemn and sacred atmosphere.
It's worth mentioning that East Africa's New Year holiday and Christmas were connected. Since East Africa lacked distinct seasons, the government designated January 1st as the official New Year.
In the West, Christmas was the most important holiday; in the Far East, it was Spring Festival. East Africa had no spring, so the Chinese Spring Festival was merged into New Year. In fact, modern Far Eastern translations sometimes call it the "East African Spring Festival"—while the dates differ, the spirit is the same.
The happiest group during New Year was undoubtedly the students. At this time, most of East Africa experienced summer. Thus, while it was winter break in the Far East, in East Africa it became summer vacation. Parts of East Africa north of the equator even had actual winter breaks.
This regional difference made East Africa's New Year unique. Still, the government scheduled holidays based on immigrant traditions.
For example, the Abyssinian Empire's New Year happened during the seasonal shift between rainy and dry seasons—around September. East Africa couldn't follow this model due to its diverse geography. Rainy seasons varied from place to place, and so did seasons.
For instance, Tanganyika had two rainy seasons. The highlands and plains had different temperatures. In high-altitude areas, winter could reach freezing temperatures, and people needed winter clothes.
Still, in most of East Africa, "winter" was during June and July and overlapped with the dry season. Nighttime was cool and dry—but rarely cold enough to kill.
The royal family also followed local customs. Ernst, his wife Karina, his in-laws, and Prince Karl all celebrated the New Year in the royal palace. The New Year's Eve dinner was extravagant, with more than 100 dishes.
Chinese cuisine took the spotlight—diverse and flavorful. German food leaned heavily on sausages of all kinds, carrying the identity of German cuisine.
European nobles favored French cuisine, so the royal table featured plenty of elegant French dishes.
Ernst described French cuisine as elegant rather than tasty. Many dishes were sweet, which didn't suit his palate—but Konstantin and the others enjoyed it.
The Swete Palace and First Town City were brightly lit, placing pressure on the power supply system.
Of course, the palace usually had round-the-clock power, but on this night, nearly every room and hall was lit up.
Ordinary citizens weren't as lavish, but they still stocked up on goods to reward themselves for a hard year.
Thanks to railway and road construction, goods, specialties, and even imported products became easier to find in stores—so East African currency gained more value thanks to consumer choice.
For example, meat became widely available in 1880. That was due to a boom in animal husbandry. National beef supply rose sharply. Previously rare meats like chicken, duck, goose, pork, and lamb also became common.
Grains became more diverse too. In addition to rice, wheat, corn, and soybeans, there were millet, sorghum, potatoes, and more. East Africans had plenty of staple foods to choose from.
Beverages also saw expansion. Coffee, tea, and various alcoholic drinks entered everyday life. East Africa's tea and coffee cultivation had reached domestic self-sufficiency. Homemade fruit wines and grain alcohols were abundant.
Other categories—tobacco, clothing, handicrafts—also flourished. In food, clothing, housing, and transportation, East African living standards made comprehensive progress.
This was all thanks to East Africa's increasingly complete industrial structure—not just heavy industry, but also handicrafts and agriculture. Traditional crafts in particular provided many indispensable goods.
Throughout 1880, East Africa had worked tirelessly on major projects, industrial layout, and inland development. So it's fair to say 1880 had been a demanding but fruitful year.
The whole of East Africa was filled with joy—but not everyone shared in the celebration. One large, neglected group was East Africa's Black population. They suffered East Africa's hardships just the same but shared none of its happiness.
While the rest of East Africa was brightly lit, Black residents stayed in their dark shanties and went to sleep quietly. Still, New Year brought some benefits. Many citizens were on holiday, projects were paused, and Black laborers got a brief moment to rest.
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