In Australia we embrace the holiday season and the joy and excitement which comes with it. It is a time of giving and gratefulness as well as being a great end to the year. Everybody enjoys Christmas differently here in Australia. Families and friends often get together, some enjoy a quiet christmas, others try to give back to the community, sharing the holiday spirit and some may not celebrate Christmas at all. We are all aware of how the holiday is celebrated here in Australia, but what about other countries?
Around the world Christmas is celebrated differently. Due to Christmas originating as a religious holiday and having religious themes, some countries may not celebrate it all due to following another religion, instead celebrating other holidays. However, other countries celebrate Christmas in their own interesting and unique way. These countries include France, Italy, Ireland, Poland and Mexico.
France:
In France, Christmas officially starts on the 6th of December with Saint Nicolas day. On this day Children are given small gifts and sweets. In the lead up to christmas day, the cities of France are decorated with Christmas lights, like many other countries, however, the children embrace the tradition of opening advent calendars more than most countries.
Houses in Frace are often decorated with Nativity cribs with markets selling Nativity figures. As well as this, Yule logs are also burnt in houses. On Christmas Eve, children put their shoes out next to the chimney to be filled with sweets. On Christmas day presents are exchanged throughout and large feasts and brunches often take place, yum!
Joyeux Noël!
Italy:
Italy celebrates Christmas from the start of December until Epiphany on the 6th of January. Like France, households in Italy decorate their houses with a Nativity scene, primarily a Neapolitan Nativity scene or ‘Presepe Napoletano’, and is the most important decoration in the home. The city of Naples is home to the largest Nativity scene with 600 individual decorations! During the Christmas season, especially in the Abruzzi region of Italy, bagpipers or ‘zampognari’ come to towns and cities to perform, symbolizing the shepherds who were in search of baby Jesus. On Christmas Eve most people celebrate the day per traditional Catholic traditions by fasting, not eating meat or dairy. However, seafood dishes are often eaten instead. On Christmas day a large feast is expected such as in France, with Christmas day dinner being the most important aspect of the day.
Buon Natale!
Ireland:
In Ireland Christmas is celebrated similarly to Australia, however they have some interesting and unique traditions and customs. One such tradition occurs on Christmas eve, where households celebrating Christmas are found to place a tall, large candle on a window sill once the sun has set. The candle burns throughout the night, representing a light which welcomes Mary and Joseph. However, since the Irish Famine, it more so represents a welcoming light to those visiting the home as travelers or returning emigrants (although it may not be taken literally). Boxing day in Ireland is also called St. Stephan’s day compared to other countries like Australia. It is a very important holiday in Ireland where football and horse racing often occurs. Examples of traditional christmas foods in Ireland include a round cake made of caraway seeds and spiced beef.
Nollaig Shona!
Poland
In Poland, ‘Advent’ is the beginning of Christmas. This is a time where peace and giving is celebrated. During this time some give up their favourite foods, clean and prepare their house for Christmas and parties are not held often. At dawn there is also the tradition of ‘roraty’ where communion services are held at dawn. At school and workplaces tangerines are often found, meaning that Christmas time is starting. On Christmas Eve, everybody wears their best festive clothes and once a star appears in the sky a meal is eaten. This meal contains 12 dishes, providing good luck for 12 months and is traditionally meat free. A spare plate is also left out for those in need for company. Straw is also placed on the floor of the room, reminding people where Jesus was born. According to Kafkadesk, the local newspaper from Central Europe, ‘Home Alone’ is the classic family Christmas day movie. Since the early 1990’s the movie has aired each year, attracting 4-5 million viewers!
Wesołych Świąt!
Mexico
Christmas in Mexico is celebrated from the 16th of December to the 6th of January. Children from the start of Christmas until Christmas Eve often partake in ‘Posada’ processions, meaning ‘Inn’ in Spanish. 9 Posadas are celebrated, representing the inns in which Joseph and Mary looked for a lodge to stay in during their journey. Children walk with their parents, holding candles and a board which holds clay figures of Mary and Joseph, singing songs at the houses of friends and neighbours. After the singing a party is held at a house (alternating each Posada) which has fireworks and games. One of these games involves a pinata. On the 23rd of December in the city of Oaxaca there are competitions regarding carving the nativity scenes out of radishes as well as a free category. On the 28th of December ‘los santos inocentes’ is also celebrated, a celebration similar to April Fools.
Feliz Navidad!
From this we can see that wherever in the world Christmas is celebrated, happiness and joy follows with the Christmas spirit being spread through different traditions and customs. Merry Christmas!
- Kael Borrello
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