Christmas is a religious holiday and a secular holiday that is greatly influenced by local culture. As a result, Christmas traditions are as diverse as the world is culturally diverse.
For example, in the United States, the Christmas tradition is literally a potpourri of the Christmas tradition brought by immigrants who are mostly European. For example, Yule Log (English), Christmas Tree (German), Carol or Noel (France), Santa Claus (Dutch). More recently, a new Christmas tradition has arrived with celebrities (Mexico) and the most recent immigrants such as “Felis Navidad!” Greetings (generally Latin America).
The following are some fun Christmas tradition whirlwind tours around the world.
Africa The
African Christmas tradition is culturally rich and diverse. In Ghana, Christmas Eve is characterized by children walking down the street, singing Christmas songs and crying, “Christ is coming, Christ is coming! He is near!” Church worship takes place on both Christmas Eve and Christmas. Following church service, family and close friends celebrate past meals made with stew or okra soup, ridge, meaty rice and mountain from.
In Liberia, oil palms decorated with bells are used for Christmas trees. On Christmas Day, simple gifts such as cotton cloth, soap, sweets, pencils and books are exchanged between friends and family and books are exchanged. Christmas morning church service usually recreates the first Christmas. A Christmas dinner consisting of rice, beef and biscuits is held outdoors. Friends and family enjoy games and fireworks at night.
Asia
Asian people and culture are far from Christianity and its Christmas tradition, but local Asian Christians have uniquely blended their Christian faith with local culture. For example, there are many traditional Christmas symbols in Chinese Christmas (Holy Birthday Festival). Chinese Christian families decorate Christmas trees, or light trees with red paper chains (red is the color of happiness in Chinese culture), lanterns, flowers. The children look forward to the arrival of Dan Che Lao Leng, meaning “Christmas Old Man” in Chinese. If allowed by local law, Asian Christians gather at the church on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to celebrate the birth of Christ.
Although most Asians are not Christians, the secular aspects of Western Christmas traditions (Christmas trees and gifts) are prevalent among many Asian middle classes. During Christmas, you can find large department stores throughout Asia, decorated with Christmas trees, Christmas lights, and occasionally Santa Claus.
Europe Since
many of the American Christmas traditions began in Europe, the American will find him or herself quite home at Christmas celebrations throughout Europe. Hanging stockings with mistletoe, Yurrog, Christmas hymns (“Hark! The Herald Angel Sings”, “Deck the Halls”), carolers, Christmas stories (Dickens ’s “A Christmas Carol”), grilled chestnuts, washer and chimney.
However, there are unique Christmas traditions in England, including Christmas dinners with turkey and chestnut stuffing, currant roasted geese, York Sharplin and Christmas cakes. On Christmas Day, the Queen greets Christmas on radio and television. Perhaps most embarrassing for their American cousins is Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, when people give small gifts to service providers and merchants throughout the year.
Every European country has its own Christmas traditions and traditions shared with other Western cultures. In Germany, children are excitedly counting the day before Christmas on the advent calendar. In the Netherlands, children expect Sinterklaas to arrive on the day of St. Nicholas on December 6th, which is a letter banquet, a cake in the shape of the first letter of the family surname. In Sweden, on December 13th in Sweden, the Christmas festival begins on the day of St. Lucia, the patron saint of light. In the early morning of St. Lucia’s Day, the eldest daughter of the Swedish family wears a “queen of light” (a long white dress and a crown of leaves). She enters each family’s bedroom and offers a snack.
Latin America
Lanavida (Christmas) is a colorful and exciting holiday throughout Latin America. Although celebrations vary greatly, religious importance remains the focus of celebration. Mexico is a classic example that focuses on the original Christmas story. In Las Posadas, Mexico, a nine-day reenactment of Maria and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem begins on December 16th. The next eight nights, celebrities made a door-to-door visit with two costumed children carrying the statues of Mary and Joseph, recreating Mary and Joseph’s search for lodging. Christmas Eve (Buena
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