These African countries once cancelled Christmas

Sierra Leone

In December 2014, soldiers were directed to be on the streets to ensure that there were no Christmas festivities in the country that year as part of moves to combat the spread of the Ebola virus.

Sierra Leone had then overtaken Liberia to be the country worst affected by the killer virus and was in a state of emergency which prohibited public gatherings.

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“There will be no Christmas and New Year celebrations this year,” said Palo Conteh, the country’s Defence minister and then head of its Ebola response team.

“We will ensure that everybody remains at home to reflect on Ebola,” he said.

“Military personnel will be on the streets at Christmas and the New Year to stop any street celebrations.” Bars, schools, and nightclubs had then been shut down because of the virus. Christmas is widely celebrated in Sierra Leone, although Islam is the largest religion.