Christmas
Around the World
United States and Canada“Merry Christmas”
Christmas in Canada and the United States is a busy time of shopping, baking, decorating and preparing for December 24. The week between Christmas Eve and New Year’s is when most parties and celebrations take place. Families generally follow customs from their ancestors. The gift bearer is Santa Claus. He lives at the North Pole with Mrs. Claus and the elves. They make presents and Santa delivers them in his sleigh pulled by eight reindeer. Santa slides down the chimney and leaves the presents in stockings hung there. Most homes set up a well-decorated evergreen tree. Brightly colored lights are strung inside, outside, and on the tree. Sending Christmas cards is a popular tradition with many families, too, as is singing carols. Christian families celebrate the holiday with special church services on Christmas Eve and Day.
Germany“Froehliche Weianachten”
Froliche Weihnachten! That is how to say Merry Christmas in German. The people of Germany love Christmas and they have many traditions. The Christmas tree comes from Germany as well as the carol “O Christmas Tree.” When you see a gingerbread house or eat gingerbread cookie, think of Germany for that is where gingerbread originated.
On Christmas Eve, families decorate their trees, go to church, eat good food, and open gifts. Kriss Fringle or Wiehnachtsmann (the Christmas man) delivers gifts to the good children. Hans Trapp brings switches to those who have been naughty!
Great Britain“Happy Christmas”
The English greeting is Happy Christmas! English has given the world many Christmas carols and some famous Christmas stories. Charles Dickens’A Christmas Carol and the song “The Twelve days of Christmas” are English. Christmas cards were first sent in England and today are an important part or the world. It is Father Christmas who brings gifts to children in England. He may carry a bowl of wassail and visit the homes during the twelve days of Christmas between Christmas and Epiphany. December 26, Boxing Day, is also important day in England. On this day, gift boxes are given in gratitude to community workers.
France “Joyeux Noël”
In France, the greeting is Joyeux Noël! There are many wonderful foods eaten during French holidays. Gift-giving may have originated in France in the name of St. Nicholas. One December 5, French children leave their shoes by the fireplace and hope the Père Noël will secretly leave presents. The crèche is the name of the French manger scene. The handmade figures inside are called santons. The crèche is the most important holiday decoration for the French family. Puppets shows are popular with children, and eating crusty bread is popular with everyone.
Italy“Buon Natale”
Merry Christmas in Italian is Buon Natale! The first true Christmas carols probably came from Italy, and the first manger scene was set up in this country by St. Francis of Assisi. It is called a presepio. Some such scenes are very large and fancy. The manger always remains empty until Christmas Eve when the Christ Child is gently placed inside. Most children do not receive their gifts until January 6. La Befana brings them. She rides a broomstick from house to house searching for the Christ Child and leaving gifts for all good children.
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Scandinavia“God Yule” and “Glaedelig Jul”
These four Scandinavian countries have cold weather at Christmastime, and their traditions reflect this. Beautiful Christmas trees, good food, clean homes and gifts are all important. Each country has a title elf or gnome who delivers gifts to the children on Christmas Eve. In Sweden, it is Juletomtem. In Norway and Demark it is Julenisse. Both are tiny and mischievous. The feast of St. Lucia is held in Sweden. The oldest daughter in the family wears a white robe and a wreath of greens and candles on her head as she serves special breakfast buns to her family. Trees in Scandinavia are decorated with garlands of flags. Bowls of gröt (porridge) are set out for the elves, and fish, gröt, and a variety of desserts are enjoyed by everyone.
Brazil“Feliz Natal”
The weather is warm at Christmastime in Brazil. Church services can be held outside. Papa Noël is the gift giver. He enters through an open window to put presents into children’s shoes. It is a tradition in Brazil to help the poor by giving white-wrapped gifts at the midnight mass. The gifts contain white foods such as flour, potatoes, and rice. The manger scene in Brazil is called the presebre. Children make figures from brightly-colored sawdust. Often there is a tree covered with cotton designed to look like snow. Legend says the animals can speak on Christmas Eve!
Mexico“Feliz Navidad”
The Mexican greeting is Feliz Navidad! Las Posadas is a very important Mexican custom. It begins on December 16 and lasts until Christmas Eve. Families and friends walk from house to house searching for a place to stay, just like the Holy family did in Bethlehem. They are always turned away. But at the last home, they are invited in, and there they celebrate with good food and games. Plays called pastorelas show the shepherds’ journey to Bethlehem. Paper lanterns called farolitos light the way for those who search for the Christ Child. Children usually have to wait until January 6 to receive their gofts from the Three Kings. But some children also receive presents from Santa on Christmas Eve.
Switzerland “Froehliche Weinachten”, “Joyeux Noel” and “Buon Natale”
There are four languages spoken in Switzerland-German, French, Italian and Romansh (Swiss). On December 5 in some parts of Switzerland, there is a parade. The people wear huge headdresses shaped like a bishop’s hat. The Christmas Child delivers gifts to many Swiss on Christmas Eve. In French areas, gifts are given on New Year’s Day. Bell of kind can be heard during the Christmas season. A star is always on top of their Christmas tree.
Scotland “Nollag Chridheil”
The Scottish does not celebrate Christmas with gay festivities, which they would consider irreverent. Instead, religious services and quiet family gatherings dominate Christmas Day celebrations. Christmas dinner is almost sure to include the traditional Scotch shortbread and new sowens, oatmeal-husk porridge. The merry-making begins on New Years’s Day, called Hogmanay. January first is considered Scotland’s great national holiday. A charming custom still remains concerning the first person to step across one’s doorsill on New Year’s Day. That person is called a “first foot” and is thought to bring good or bad luck for the coming year (a dark-haired man brings the best luck).
Portugal"Boas Festas"
In Portugal, the tradition of giving gifts is a big part of the most Christmas celebrations. Portuguese traditions include Christmas Feast of the Immaculate Conception and the Feast of the Holy Innocents that involve sharing of gifts. On Christmas Day, the feast is known as 'Consoda', where extra places are set at the table for the souls of the dead. It is believed that gifting food to ancestor's souls will make them bless the household with good fortune for the coming year. The Portuguese people burn a “Cepo de Natal” or the Christmas log, which is a piece of oak that burns throughout the day of Christmas. On 5th of January or Epiphany Eve, children keep their shoes along windowsills and doorways and fill them with carrots and straw to lure the horses of the Three Wise Men to their household during the night. The Three Kings (not the Santa) then leave gifts and treats for the children in their shoes, which they usually find in the morning and consist of candied fruits and sweet breads.