Christmas traditions and celebrations celebrated worldwide

Written by: Mariah Rochester '12           

            Christmas is a holiday that is celebrated worldwide and in a number of different ways. The traditions in different places around the world give each culture its own definition of Christmas.

            The Christmas season in the United States begins in the end of November and ends in the beginning of January, but Christmas is celebrated in December 25. The traditions in the U.S. are similar to those in England.

During the Christmas season, the weeks leading up to Christmas, the exterior and interior of homes is decorated with lights, Nativity scenes and other various decorations, and a Christmas tree. The tree can be real or artificial and is decorate with lights, garland, and ornaments. The Yule log in a firebox has remained a tradition for some time.

            On Christmas Eve, stockings are usually hung and children are sometimes allowed to open a few gifts from their family. Santa Clause is said to visit homes while children are sleeping on Christmas Eve. It is a tradition to leave a plate of cookies and a glass of milk out for Santa and carrots or oats for Santa’s reindeer. Gifts from Santa are opened on Christmas day.

            The traditional Christmas dinner is made up of turkey, ham, or roast beef, and Yorkshire pudding. A variety of sweet pastries and egg nog is commonly served for dessert. Christmas dinner can be held on Christmas Eve or Christmas day, depending on when families wish to have it.

            Other Christmas traditions include a special church service the Sunday before Christmas and Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. A re-enactment of the Nativity of Jesus sometimes takes place at different churches.

            Local radio stations may temporarily play Christmas music, and many family Christmas movies are aired on television, as well.

            In Nigeria, Christmas is celebrated on December 25. Various festivals of singing and dancing take place, including masquerades. Gift giving in Nigeria often involves money and the flow of gifts is typically from the rich to the poor. Sometimes money is thrown into the air to be grabbed or stuck on sweaty foreheads of dancers.

            Rather than sweets, Nigerians tend to prepare different kinds of meat in large quantities. In the South, Jollof rice is served with stews of various meats, boiled beans, and fried plantains. In the North, rice pudding is served with various meat stews. Mainly alcoholic drinks are served and children and women are served locally-made soft-drink equivalents.

            Christmas in Ethiopia is celebrated in January 7 rather than December 25, and is called Ganna. On Christmas Eve, Christian priests carry a procession through town carrying decorated umbrellas, and the procession ends at local churches where Mass is held.

            On Christmas morning, gifts are opened and outdoors sports are played to celebrate. Typically the wealthy share a feast with the poor.

            Bangladesh celebrates Christmas on December 25, and it is called Borodin, or Great Day. The day celebrated in remembrance of Jesus’ birth. People greet their family and friends by saying, “Shubho Boro Din,” or “Greetings of the great day”. Traditional sweets are offered, also.

            Homes are decorated in a variety of different ways, and artificial stars are hung on rooftops to signify the Star of Bethlehem. Various festivities are held throughout the day to celebrate Christmas.

            In the People’s Republic of China, December 25 is not a legal holiday. It is designated as a public holiday in China’s special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau.

            In the mainland, a small percent of Christians, usually unofficially or privately, observe Christmas, while others who don’t consider themselves Christians celebrate Christmas-like festivities.

            Sending cards, exchanging gifts, and hanging stockings are some of the traditions for Christmas. In Hong Kong, many buildings facing the Victoria Harbour are decorated in Christmas lights.

            Israel is a Jewish state with strong emphasis on religious freedom. Jewish Israelis do not celebrate Christmas, but instead celebrate Hanukkah, which falls approximately at the same time. Israeli Arabs are Muslim and also do not celebrate Christmas.

            A minority of Christian Israeli Arabs celebrate Christmas. Some celebrate with Western churches on December 25, while others celebrate with Eastern churches on January 7. The pattern of Christmas observance by Palestinians is similar to that of Israeli Arabs.

            Christmas is important in both areas due to the region’s significance as a place where Jesus lived. Bethlehem lies in the West Bank, with the Church of the Nativity being a prominent symbol for both Christian and Muslim Palestinians.

            Jerusalem is associated with the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus and tends to focus pilgrimage towards Eastertide.

            Christmas is recognized as a national holiday in South Korea. Christian and non-Christian Koreans celebrate some holiday customs such as gift-giving, sending cards, and setting up decorated trees in their homes. Children have embraced Santa Clause, whom they call Santa Halabuji, or Grandfather Santa.

             Local radio stations play Christmas music and television stations play Christmas films and cartoons popular in Western countries.

            Churches hold Christmas pageants and conduct special services on Christmas Eve, as well as Christmas day.

            In Central Europe, the main celebration date for Christmas is on Christmas Eve, December 24. Christmas Eve is a fasting day and children are told that if they fast until after dinner they will see a golden pig. When evening comes, preparation for Christmas dinner begins.

            Some dinners have up to twelve dishes. After dinner, gifts are opened and gifts are commonly attributed to Christkind. Many people go to Midnight Mass celebration on Christmas Eve, after gifts have been opened.

            In most areas, Santa Clause does not come for Christmas. Instead, he visits families earlier, on the dawn of St. Nicholas on December 6. He leaves gifts and candy bags in the polished shoes of well-behaved children. Santa is usually accompanied by a servant named Krampusz who gives birches to badly-behaved children. All children get gifts and birches, no matter how they behaved.

            Christmas in Russia is a mainly religious event that is celebrated on January 7 and is a national holiday. On Christmas Eve there are several long services.

            Royal Hours and Vespers are combined with the Divine Liturgy. After these services, families return home for the “Holy Supper”.

            The dinner consists of twelve dishes; one to honor each of the Twelve Apostles. Devout families then return to the church for the All Night Vigil and again on Christmas morning for the Divine Liturgy of the Nativity.

            In Italy, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8 is a national holiday. December 8 is the day that Christmas decorations and the three are put up. Christmas is celebrated similar to Western European countries with a strong emphasis to Christian meaning and celebration by the Catholic Church. It is common for people to attend Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.

            Not eating meat is a practiced custom on Christmas. Dinner traditionally consists of seafood with the Feats of the Seven Fishes followed by typical Italian Christmas sweets.

            Christmas on December 25 is celebrated with a family lunch. An ancient festival called Ndocciata is celebrated on Christmas Eve in Molise with a parade of torches leading up to the “Bonfire of Brotherhood”.

            December 26 is a public holiday is Italy, and festivities extend to the end of the year, then to Epiphany on January 6.

            On January 6, decorations are taken down and in some areas female puppets are burned to symbolize the end of the Christmas period and the death of the old year and beginning of a new one.

            Christmas day in New Zealand is a statutory holiday. A mix of United Kingdom and North American traditions are practiced.

            The traditional Christmas tree is a standard in New Zealand, along with traditional symbols of holly and ivy that are sometimes replaced by the Pohutukawa tree. The Pohutukawa tree is often called the “New Zealand Christmas tree”.

            Winter-styled hot food is served for Christmas dinner, and Christmas desserts are served after. House decorations are common and there are several Christmas-themed parades. The most popular Christmas parade is Auckland’s Santa Parade.

            In Venezuela, Christmas is celebrated as a religious occasion. Presents are brought by “El Nino Jesus,” or Baby Jesus instead of “Papa Noel”.

            The unofficial start of Christmas festivities is after the celebration of “Feris de la Chinita”, in the second half of November.

            In many cities, neighborhoods get together for “patinatas” night festivals. The festivals are usually sponsored by the local churches. Children write request letters to Baby Jesus. Gifts are sent by Baby Jesus at midnight and most people have parties that go until sunrise.