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 How
Different Nations Celebrate Christmas
There
literally hundreds of Christmas traditions.
Though we may be only aware of the small corner
or our world, in another nations Christmas is being
celebrated as well.
American Christmas
celebrations are a Hodge-podge of traditions from all
over the world. They
follow the English tradition with carol singing, the
German tradition of decorated trees, and Santa Claus
from the Dutch tradition.
Most families do not open their gifts until
Christmas morning but a few especially the Spanish
Americans open their gifts the night before.
Many Americans celebrate the Christian tradition
and attend church on the special day and enjoy a feast
for dinner.
Austria celebrates Christmas on December the 6th
which was the day they believed Saint Nicholas in his
priestly glittering robe comes and blesses the children
with goodies. It
also said that he protects them from the demon that at
one time would kill the children, but now is his helper.
On the 24th, plays reenact the long
travel Mary and Joseph made to Bethlehem and church
services would be held in honor of the Christ child.
The people would then return home to their
dinners that usually consisted of fish and lots of baked
goodies. After
dinner a bell would ring, and a locked door would be
unlocked and for the first time the children would stand
in awe at the decorated tree with presents below.
England celebrates Christmas with the most pomp and
circumstance, believing it to be the most important
holiday of the year.
Their Christmas traditions stems back to hundreds
of years. The
Christmas card was first posted in England in the
1840’s. Decorations such as holly and mistletoe are
rites that extend as far back as the dark ages. The
Christmas tree was actually introduced to Britain by
King George III, but did not become an interest to the
commoners until 1840 when Queen Victoria and her German
husband Albert popularized it by mounting it in their
courts. Gifts are opened on Christmas day and most
British attend Church.
Food is of all the grandeur with the traditional
roast turkey. In the afternoon, everyone listens to a broadcasted Christmas
message from the Queen.
France and Canada celebrate the Winter Solstice which originated
from the Celtics. This
is a festival to celebrate the entering of winter.
Christianity did originate and developed in the
ancient world, and the message of Christ brought in a
new hope for these nations.
They have a festival calendar that was
established form the fourth century, which replaced the
ancient customs and pagan beliefs.
Christmas is celebrated on the 24th
and 25th with a Christian liturgy that begins
the night of the 24th and ends the next day
on the 25th.
Germany celebrates Christmas much like the Dutch, on December
the 6th.
They believe that it is a day of magic where
wonderful things happen, such as water turning into
wine, animals speaking and you can find gems throughout
the mountain, just for the picking.
They celebrate the Saint Nicholas tradition of
Saint Nick dressed in a fine robe, bringing to the
children their gifts.
The celebration continues until December 24th
where a large feast is prepared and people eat to their
heart’s content.
It is believed that if you do not eat enough,
demons will come and haunt you during the night.
They call this feast “fat stomachs.”
Christmas day on the 25th
promises another dinner with roast goose and all the
trimmings. Keeping with the ancient traditions, trees are decorated on
this day with all the decorations that depict the Garden
of Eden, with apples, and red (for knowledge) and white
(for innocence) ribbons.
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