Christmas across the world

For many people celebrating Christmas is a yearly statement of their religious beliefs. For others it is an opportunity to exchange presents with friends and family, and to indulge in more material activities. Whatever their reasons, they are taking part in a festival that combines traditions from various societies over more than three thousand years. There are many different ways of celebrating Christmas around the globe. Each country has its own special Christmas foods, traditions, and customs. These traditions are as diverse as the culture and religious practices of each and every country in the world, here are just a few.

The image of Father Christmas, or Santa Claus, is known to many adults and children around the world. Santa Claus originated in the 4th century with Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, an area in present day Turkey. He was known as a kind and generous man who particularly loved children. The Feast of St. Nicholas was celebrated on 6 December when gifts were given and charitable acts performed.

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The tradition was kept alive in Holland where the Dutch eventually transformed his name to Sinterklaas. Dutch children would leave their wooden shoes (clogs) by the fireplace and Sinterklaas would reward the good ones by leaving treats in these shoes. Dutch colonists took the custom to America in the 17th century where the Anglican name of Santa Claus came into use. Other countries celebrate different bearers of good things during the Christmas or Advent season. In Italy there is La Befana, in Spain, Puerto Rico, and Mexico the Three Kings, in Sweden children meet an elf like character called the Tomten, Christkindl or the Christ Child is found in Switzerland, Bavaria and Austria and Pere Noël, Father Christmas or the Christ Child is celebrated in France.

From November onwards in the UK, it is impossible to forget that Christmas is on its way. Shops and town centres are festooned with lights and decorations and every kind and colour of Christmas tree. Christmas carols can be heard playing everywhere and are often sung by choirs on the streets in order to raise money for charity. Christmas Day is the highlight of the holidays. Presents are given out around the tree in the morning and families gather together for a traditional dinner of roast turkey with vegetables and various sauces followed by rich, fruity Christmas pudding smothered in flaming brandy sauce. The sending of Christmas cards to friends and family is very popular and this year the Post Office expects to handle over 100 million cards EACH DAY, in the three weeks before Christmas.

In many English-speaking countries, after Christmas Day comes ‚Boxing Day‘. This originates from a custom in the Middle Ages when churches would open their ‚alms boxes‘ (in which people had placed gifts of money) and distribute the contents to the local poor people on the day after Christmas.

On Christmas Eve in Slovakia, Christmas trees are put up, people go to church and return home to a traditional dinner consisting of sauerkraut (cabbage) soup and fish and potato salad. Before the main dishes wafers with honey and small pieces of garlic are eaten. After the main meal comes a dish called Lok'e made from pieces of baked risen dough containing raisins and poppy seeds. All this is followed by the opening of presents from under the Christmas tree.

For the Swedish, the most important day of the holidays is also Christmas Eve when a special Christmas meal is eaten consisting of ham (pork), herring and brown beans and families give presents to each other.

Latvians believe that Father Christmas (or Santa Claus) brings presents on each of the 12 days of Christmas starting on Christmas Eve. How lovely to prolong the fun! It was in Latvia in the 16th century that the first Christmas tree is said to have been decorated, with roses on Christmas Eve.

Christmas in Australia is often very hot and it is not unusual to have Christmas Day with temperatures well into the mid 30s Celsius. They too eat a turkey dinner followed by a flaming Christmas pudding although some Australians often have their Christmas dinner on their local beach. Bondi Beach near Sydney attracts thousands of people on Christmas Day. Since 1937, Carols by Candlelight has been held every year on Christmas Eve, when tens of thousands of people gather in the city of Melbourne to sing their favorite Christmas songs.

Although people in non-Christian countries also celebrate Christmas their customs have very little connection to the religious festival. Christmas in Japan is a time only for children when a priest called a Hoteiosha plays the part of Santa Claus and leaves presents for children at each house. Adults wait until the far more significant New Year festival to exchange gifts and good wishes.

In China, families decorate evergreen trees with paper chains, flowers and lanterns. No mention is made of Christ in the festivities of this communist state and so the trees are given the name ‘Trees of Light’. On Christmas Day itself the children await the visit of Dun Che Lao Ren (Christmas Old Man) to bring their gifts. As in Japan, the more significant festival is the Lunar New Year which is celebrated here between mid-January and early February.

Tibetans hold a five day festival called Dosmoche which celebrates the dying year and the start of the new. A magical pole made of crosses, pentagrams and stars is set up in each village. Dancers wear frightening masks to ward off evil spirits in the year ahead. Prayers and feasts culminate in the villagers tearing down the pole.

The modern Christmas, celebrated by both believer and unbeliever, has evolved over centuries of change and adaptation and must be viewed as a victory of tolerance over the less palatable side of human nature. Let’s hope it continues to hold its head above the flood waters of commercialism. So wherever and however you spend Christmas this year may I wish you Vesele Vianoce a Šťastný Nový Rok.

By Jan Maytum
Photo: Fotolia

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