Christmas Traditions | Christmas
Every family has their own Christmas tradition and each country has their own Christmas traditions which I think is amazing as although its a catholic tradition people all over the world celebrate it in their own way. Just shows not everything is effected by religion. So due to this I thought I would look at different countries Christmas traditions.
AFRICA
December in Africa is their summer meaning their is no snow but they still celebrate it similarly to how we would in England. They go caroling on the 24th, with children chanting 'Christ is coming! He is near!' and spend the 26th relaxing with the family. Their Christmas meals are also similar, dinner in the open-air lunch but it is the traditional dinner of either turkey, roast beef, mince pies, or suckling pig, yellow rice with raisins, vegetables, and plum pudding. Along with the pulling of crackers and party hats.
CHINA
Those who don't celebrate Christmas call this time the Spring Festival where they respect their ancestors and spoil the children.
For those who do celebrate decorate their houses with little paper ornaments of flowers, chains and lanterns. The Chinese Christmas trees are called Trees of Light. Santa Claus is called Dun Che Lao Ren which means Christmas Old Man.
HOLLAND
December 5th is Sinterklaas Eve or Sinterklass Eve, and presents are given and received. Christmas Day is a religious time, and the day is spent with visits to Church. In the afternoon, people sit around the tree, sing carols and tell stories.
RUSSIA
The Christmas holiday is being replaced by the Festival of Winter but some of the traditions have stayed the same. Some people fast until January the 6th which is then followed by a twelve course supper in honor of each of the twelve apostles - fish, beet soup or Borsch, cabbage stuffed with millet, cooked dried fruit and much more. Hay is spread on the floors and tables to encourage horse feed to grow in the coming year and people make clucking noises to encourage their hens to lay eggs.
ITALY
The Christmas season lasts three weeks in Italy, starting 8 days before Christmas, known as Novena. Children go house to house, like caroling, but instead of singing they read poems dressed as shepherds and playing pipes. At noon on Christmas Day the pope gives his blessing to crowds gathered in the huge Vatican square.Instead of being given presents on Christmas day they wait until January 6th in which the presents by a kind ugly witch called Befana.
I found all this information on this amazing website called Santas.net which has a massive list of many different countries containing information on how they all celebrate Christmas. Link here.
With all this in mind it made me think of my families Christmas traditions.
AFRICA
December in Africa is their summer meaning their is no snow but they still celebrate it similarly to how we would in England. They go caroling on the 24th, with children chanting 'Christ is coming! He is near!' and spend the 26th relaxing with the family. Their Christmas meals are also similar, dinner in the open-air lunch but it is the traditional dinner of either turkey, roast beef, mince pies, or suckling pig, yellow rice with raisins, vegetables, and plum pudding. Along with the pulling of crackers and party hats.
CHINA
Those who don't celebrate Christmas call this time the Spring Festival where they respect their ancestors and spoil the children.
For those who do celebrate decorate their houses with little paper ornaments of flowers, chains and lanterns. The Chinese Christmas trees are called Trees of Light. Santa Claus is called Dun Che Lao Ren which means Christmas Old Man.
HOLLAND
December 5th is Sinterklaas Eve or Sinterklass Eve, and presents are given and received. Christmas Day is a religious time, and the day is spent with visits to Church. In the afternoon, people sit around the tree, sing carols and tell stories.
RUSSIA
The Christmas holiday is being replaced by the Festival of Winter but some of the traditions have stayed the same. Some people fast until January the 6th which is then followed by a twelve course supper in honor of each of the twelve apostles - fish, beet soup or Borsch, cabbage stuffed with millet, cooked dried fruit and much more. Hay is spread on the floors and tables to encourage horse feed to grow in the coming year and people make clucking noises to encourage their hens to lay eggs.
ITALY
The Christmas season lasts three weeks in Italy, starting 8 days before Christmas, known as Novena. Children go house to house, like caroling, but instead of singing they read poems dressed as shepherds and playing pipes. At noon on Christmas Day the pope gives his blessing to crowds gathered in the huge Vatican square.Instead of being given presents on Christmas day they wait until January 6th in which the presents by a kind ugly witch called Befana.
I found all this information on this amazing website called Santas.net which has a massive list of many different countries containing information on how they all celebrate Christmas. Link here.
With all this in mind it made me think of my families Christmas traditions.
- Until about two years ago my uncle and auntie used to drive down Christmas day and leave the 27th of December from Wales, every year.
- Christmas Eve the whole family walks around the neighborhood rating the Christmas decorations, bad I know
- A walk around our local National Trust House, Saltram, is a must no matter what the weather on Christmas afternoon
- Boxing day is the day of leftovers
- Boxing day is the day of building together presents, normally lego. The whole family takes part.
What about you? Do you have any family traditions?
Talk to you later x
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