Although every country has different Christmas traditions, showing love for family, friends and their fellow man is something people in every country share in their own ways. And Jesus Christ is the one who showed love, the extravagant love of God our Father, in the most magnificent way.
For our neighbors to the south in MEXICO, there is warm weather during the Christmas season. People do their shopping in outdoor market stalls called “puestos.” Mexican families cut unique designs in paper bags and place lit candles in the bags to make lovely lanterns called “farolitos.” At night Mexican towns are lit up spectacularly by the farolitos which are placed on sidewalks, rooftops and windowsills.
In contrast, our neighbors to the north in CANADA have lots of snow at Christmas. Canadians have many of the same Christmas traditions as Americans such as decorating an evergreen tree, opening colorfully wrapped presents from family and the story of Santa Claus coming down the chimney with gifts for children. At the close of Christmas in Canada, families make a special cake with a bean inside. The person who gets the slice of cake with the bean gets to be “king” or “queen” for the day.
ENGLAND celebrates Christmas traditions similar to those in America as well. One unique children’s activity is the writing of letters to Father Christmas instead of Santa Claus. English children toss their letters to Father Christmas in the fireplace so that their Christmas wishes go up the chimney.
Christmas Eve is the most important part of the celebratory traditions FRANCE. All the church bells ring and French people sing Christmas songs called “Noels.” Christmas day is spent at church followed by a feast featuring the original Yule Log for dessert.
The advent wreath originated in GERMANY and plays a special role in German families’ Christmas traditions. Each Sunday in the month of December a colorful candle is lit on the advent wreath. Baking sweets is a huge part of the German Christmas -- especially the spicy German cookie known as “lubkuchen.”
The Manger Scene, or Presepio, is the center of Christmas celebrations in ITALY. Each year, Italian families go to the “Christmas Market” in their towns to purchase a new figure for their Manger Scene. Every day the families gather around their Presepio to light a candle and pray.
In SPAIN, Christmas celebrations begin on December 8 with the weeklong Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Music plays a special role in the Spanish celebration of Christmas as there is singing and dancing in the streets and neighborhoods every night during the season.
Americans got the tradition of Santa Claus from HOLLAND where Dutch children eagerly await the arrival of Sinterklaas, a jolly bishop who wears long red robes and a pointed hat known as a “mitre.” Sinterklaas travels by boat from Spain to Holland where he mounts his white horse and carries huge sacks of gifts to the homes of Dutch children.
Christmas festivities begin on December 13 in SWEDEN with St. Lucia’s Day, a celebration of the patron saint of light. The eldest daughter in each family dons a long white dress and acts as the Queen of Light. She goes to each bedroom and serves each family member coffee and treats. Afterwards, the entire family goes out to select their Christmas tree.
Christmas in ETHIOPIA begins on January 7 when Ethiopians celebrate the birth of Jesus at a church event they call Ganna. Twelve days later, on January 19, they begin a three-day celebration of Jesus’ baptism which is known as Timkat.
It’s summer during Christmas in AUSTRALIA, mate! And Australians love to celebrate with “Carols by Candlelight,” a beautiful event in which neighbors gather together at night to light candles and sing their favorite Christmas songs.
Christmas is not highly regarded in CHINA since there are so few Christians in the country; however those who wish to celebrate Jesus’ birth refer to Christmas as Sheng Dan Jieh, or Holy Birth Festival. They put up a “tree of light” and decorate it with colorful Chinese lanterns.
And the light of the world is always Jesus Christ for everyone on Earth who celebrates Christmas.
“For unto you is born this day in the City of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord.”
__ Luke 2:11
Feliz Navidad, Buone Feste Natalizie, Fröhliche Weihnachten, Joyeux Noel, Melkin Yelidet Beaal, Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan, Zalig Kerstfeast, God Jul, and
Merry Christmas to all!
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