Hi, I have some homework where I have to find about some different ways people celebrate Christmas around the world. Can anyone please give me any answers?
I live in Australia.
International traditions
by Emily | Dec 2, 2007 | Christmas Memories, Christmas today | 5 comments
Hi Emily. Thanks for asking – it sounds like a great homework assignment to study Christmas!
Here are a few things that might help you…
In Greece, Santa is called Saint Nikolaos and his name day is on 6 January. Traditionally children received gifts on his naming day but it is mostly on Christmas Day now I think.
The Greeks make special biscuits for Christmas called Kouramiedes and Melomacrona.
In France, children leave their shoes by the fireplace for Pere Noel to fill with gifts. Pere Noel also leave nuts, fruits, lollies and even small toys on the tree for the children.
Many French homes have a nativity scene or crèche (scenes of the birth or life of Jesus) in their houses for Christmas.
The French share log-shaped cakes called buche de Nol (Christmas log) instead of burning a Yule log for 12 days.
The French parts of Canada (especially Quebec) also have a crèche near their Christmas tree.
In Denmark, Christmas is called Jul (meaning feast). Their meal starts with a rice pudding followed by roast goose.
They light candles for Christmas. The trees are decorated for Christmas Eve to surprise the children.
Good luck with your homework, and hopefully some others will share their ideas of Christmas overseas for you.
Oh, a Yule log is a log placed on its side in a fireplace so that it smokes upwards and wards off spirits trying to enter the house during the 12 days of Christmas.
In Spain, they start Christmas on the 8th December at the feast of Immaculate Conception. Children get presents on the 6th January from the 3 wise men – they leave out shoes full of straw or hay or carrots, and find presents in the morning.
They light oil lamps to look like stars on Christmas Eve – this is known as Nochebuena (the Good NIght).
Jota is their special Christmas dance and Turron (almond nougat lollies) is their traditional Christmas treat.
Cows are special in Spain for Chirstmas as they beleive the cow in the stable breathed warm air to keep baby Jesus warm.
And did you know that children do lots of swinging at christmas? they even set up new swings just for christmas!! They think (well traditionally) that it helps the sunto swing higer in the sky.
When my Dad grew up in the Netherlands, he used to put his shoes by the front door for Saint Nicholas to put treats in, rather than stockings. They also had their dinner on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day.
When we were in Nepal, Christmas wasn’t celebrated at all – it was just another day. So we had a tree and our Aussie traditions there. Though we ate Dahl Baht instead of turkey!
THANK YOU for the imfo Sally and Santa’s Elf and MissieK
i have also looked up Japan and China>
CHINA:
some of the things they do in china: since they make most of there profert in China the things they don`t need go towards Christmas presants and the most lots of food catorgorey`s that they use is normaly breakfast.
There they have a 3/4 hour breakfast.
Somthings in Japan that is tradishoinly used is have a fire for a 12 days fof christmas to like the Fench to keep the bad spirits away