Most South Africans braai at least once a week and don’t need a reason to light up the fire. They braai on Sundays because it’s relaxing, and some braai on because the weather allows it. The opportunities for a braai are endless.
Unlike a BBQ, braai's are not strictly reserved for warm weather. Many South Africans can braai on a covered patio, making rainy weather irrelevant to the occasion. Many also have indoor braai areas. This is especially evident in because though very windy, not braaing is simply not an option.
South Africans love and they’re great at preparing and cooking it. Grilling options can include boerewors (“farmer’s sausage”), steak, chicken, lamb, and often game meat as well as sides include anything from potato bakes to corn on the cob.
The food at a braai is delicious, but the whole experience is also very social. Waiting for the fire to produce the right amount of heat takes time, then there’s eating, drinking, and more drinking. This is the whole point of a braai: a long social gathering that can last for hours on end.
Braaing is one of the few things in South Africa that cuts through cultural and racial lines. Regardless of language, race, or culture, the love of meat cooked over a wood fire is something that all South Africans share. It really is a South-African tradition.
