One might be surprised to learn the holiday season in Kenya is celebrated with traditions similar to those in Western cultures. Maasai children wake up early on the 25th of December and excitedly urge their parents to hurry as they make tea and cook breakfast so they can open the presents. They have been preparing for this holiday for months by making presents for each other; beaded jewelry, belts, bags, calabashes, toys and body adornment for the children. After the present opening, clans gather for the feast of roasted meat, potatoes and potent honey beer.

The Maasai still keep their traditions intact - herding cattle and living off the land as modernization changes the world around them. They are known to be a culture with close community and family ties and who love to celebrate all occasions in a big way; so they naturally adopted Christmas into their culture as yet another wonderful celebration and embraced it with relish.

In the months approaching Christmas, the Maasai are busy making presents, planning events, cleaning their finest of everything, scrubbing the houses, repairing the grounds, getting out the jewelry and shopping for new kikoys, the European version of a shuka- Maasai fabric, to wear. The air is full of excitement. Bees love the blooming acacia trees, and produce the most flavorful of all the honeys in the world. This honey is then used to produce honey beer- a common holiday beverage at Maasai celebrations.

When you wake up Christmas morning, think for just a moment about the Maasai half a world away. Cuddling exhausted children, patting stomachs full of meat, drowsy with libation, and admiring their lovely presents with family all around. Wishing you all a very happy and safe holiday from The Leakey Collection Family.

We have several “MacGyvers” in our Leakey Collection family such as TLC manager Kristan Fazio and my husband Philip (to name a few). A “MacGyver” is a remarkably talented person who know how to make something from nothing much like the television hero; and of course fix anything with his Swiss Army knife! As a result of Philip “MacGyver” Leakey’s abilities- I am excited to announce we have new fallen hardwood coming soon!

After building our new workshop Philip was eager to work with our beautiful fallen hardwoods that we collect from an environmentally sustainable source here in Kenya. Maasai men are known for carving lovely 3 legged stools, rungas – wood clubs with a round end they use for protection when herding cattle, and other small household items. We have enlisted several to get our new fallen-hardwood line of products into production. It has long been a dream and now such fun to see the gorgeous grain of the wood come to life. I am reminded of a statement attributed to Michelangelo, “I release the figure from the stone”.

Not to make the comparison with Philip’s handy work; but I must say that the hardwood grain and warm golden, red and brown tones are so luxurious when sculpted. Each piece is a work of art and the hardwood trays, bowls, plates and small jewelry holders do look as though they have been “released” from the fallen hardwood.

The work is tedious, hard, and dirty but just like any piece of art - worth the labor! Every bowl, platter, tray, and small piece is lovingly hand sculpted, sanded, and waxed to perfection. We can’t wait to begin taking orders this coming January. Each piece is so unique that it is difficult to decide which ones I want to keep. Of course we’ll keep our first pieces, the testimony to learning and like children; we love the flaws of our own first born.

Pictured is MacGyver at work at his lathe, working on his first salad bowl. The other small bowls are gorgeous and I have my name on the one in the photo. I love the silvery tones to this particular piece of wood. We have 3 wedding presents for friends children selected too! And of course there is Christmas coming.