Good morning! Today I'd like to introduce you to Izzy, who's going to take us around the globe for a look at Christmas traditions in other countries. Here in San Diego, we're getting ready to put up our tree and bake some Christmas cookies. Hope you are all enjoying the holiday season as much as we are!
- Monica
Christmas is probably the most celebrated, as well as the favorite, holiday of people all around the globe. Whether it is in Europe, America, Asia or Africa, Christmas is highly anticipated by all members of the family, who get together in order to rejoice in the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a time to be merry and there definitely is a special vibe in the air, the so-called Christmas Spirit. Even though people all over the world enjoy Christmas, different nations mark the holiday in a different way, with their own unique traditions and customs. So, here is how folks around the globe celebrate the world's favorite family holiday:
Brazil
The nation of Brazil is a mixture of people from different ethnic groups, and since it is a former Portuguese colony, many of the Christmas customs in Brazil are from the Portuguese heritage. The equivalent of Santa Claus in Brazil is Papai Noel. According to the legend, he comes to Brazil wearing silk clothes because of the heat. People tend to recreate the birth of Christ which they call Presépio. The scene is put on display both at homes and in churches. Christmas festivities continue until January 6th, known as Three Kings Day. It is the day when the Three Wise Men visited Jesus in order to bring him gifts. In Brazil people greet each other by saying 'Feliz Natal'.
Greenland
In Greenland different families tend to visit each other and indulge in drinking coffee and eating cakes. Presents that are given are mostly things that could come in handy – sealskin mitts, a pair of tusks or a sledge. After the cake and coffee, people give to each other Mattak, which is basically a strip of whale skin with blubber. The taste resembles that of a coconut. However, it is too tough to chew, so it’s usually just swallowed. Another famous Christmas food is Kiviak which is pretty much decomposed auk meat. It is the only night when men wait for their wives to come back home, instead of the other way round.
Ireland
Christmas in Ireland lasts eleven days – from Christmas Eve up until January 6th when the Epiphany feast takes place. The last day of Christmas is called Little Christmas. Women in Ireland tend to bake each member of the family a seed cake. Also baked are three puddings – one for each day of Epiphany. A day almost as important as Christmas is the day after it – St Stephen's Day. Plenty of meetings and football matches happen on that day. Leaving a bottle of Guiness beer and a mince pie for Santa is a tradition in Ireland. 'Merry Christmas' in Irish is 'Nollaig Shona Dhuit'.
Czech Republic
Celebrations over there begin on the 6th of December when St. Nicholas visits. In the Czech Republic he is referred to as Svaty Mikalas. He is believed to climb down from heaven on a rope made of gold, along with a whip-carrying devil and an angel. Christmas time over there is peaceful and quiet. The Christmas dinner usually consists of a baked carp. To the good children, St. Nicholas brings presents whereas the bad ones are whipped by the whip-carrying devil. At midnight families go to Pasterka (Holy Mass). The celebrations continue for three days. The Christmas wish in Czech Republic is 'Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok'.
Iran
In Iran, Christmas is referred to as Little Feast. There is a fast in the first twenty five days of December during which no animal products (meat, milk, eggs) are consumed. It is a time for humility, a time for church going. The fast ends on the 25th of December and the Christmas dinner consists of plenty of meat. People are granted the permission to break fast when they attend Mass in order to receive Communion. Children in Iran have never heard of Santa Claus and exchange no presents. However, they do receive presents, mostly in the form of new clothes. A traditional Christmas meal in Iran is a type of chicken stew. In Iran, you greet with 'Merry Christmas' by saying 'Kerismas Mobārak'.
Japan
In Japan only 1% of the population believes in Christ. However, most people decorate their homes and stores with evergreens. The other part of Christmas they celebrate is exchanging gifts. The person that acts like Santa Claus is a Buddhist monk; he is called Hotei-osho. Children believe that Hotei-osho has eyes on the back of his head, and therefore they do their best to behave whenever he is around. The little Christian families in Japan spend the day helping those in need, for example, by visiting hospitals. In Japanese, 'Merry Christmas' is 'Shinnen omedeto'.
Christmas is basically celebrated all over the globe. Even in countries where Christianity is not the official religion, people respect the holiday and share it with those who do celebrate it.
