How Christmas is Celebrated Around The World

by Virginia Stiles

What can you add to your Christmas traditions this year? How can you and your family best celebrate the meaning of the holidays?

Here are a few celebrations from around the world. See if there is an idea you could add to your holiday, enriching the your traditions.

It's summer in South Africa for Christmas, so the holidays are celebrated outdoors on the beaches or in the mountains. In town, carolers go around by candlelight on Christmas Eve. Homes are decorated with pine branches and a fir tree with gifts underneath. The children hang their stockings, expecting a visit from Father Christmas. Christmas Day brings church services; and then, Christmas dinner is set out in the front of their homes or even out in the country, where friends and family gather to share.

Canada celebrates very much like the USA; it's a time for good cheer and family togetherness. They say "Merry Christmas" in English and "Joyeux Noel" in French. Quebec has a famous winter carnival each year with huge ice-carved figures. It's tradition to decorate public parks and buildings as well as homes. A favorite food of French Canadians is Tourtiore, a pork pie served on Christmas Eve. The children expect a visit from Santa Claus, although many families wait until New Year's Day to open their presents.

"Kung His Hsin Niew bing Chu Shen Ten" is the Mandarin Chinese Christmas greeting. Christians in China put up a Christmas tree, but it usually is decorated with paper lanterns, ornaments and paper characters (words) for luck, long life, prosperity and happiness. The children wait for a visit from Old Man Christmas. They hang muslin stockings. Christmas is a time for the children, eating delicious food and watching firecracker-displays.

In France, they decorate their trees with regional dolls from around the country, with flowers, apples, sugar and silver or gold garlands. New additions to their trees are toys, candles, fruit, crystal balls and pinecones. The French Christmas season starts November 11 (St Martin's Day) and goes until January 6 (The Feast of the Epiphany). Advent calendars are an important part of the children's preparation for Christmas. Yule logs have been a part of French celebrations for about 700 years, until most folks no longer have fireplaces. Now they include a Buche de Nol (log-shaped cake) in their celebrations. The children get gifts from Pere Noel on St Nicholas Eve, and the adults usually exchange gift on New Year's Day. Nearly every home has a Nativity scene.

"Mele Kalikimake" is the Christmas greeting in Hawaii. Their trees are decorated with items that remind them of Hawaii's past and traditions. They hold a Christmas luau, with a pig as the centerpiece; the Christmas flower is the poinsettia. The missionaries brought many holiday traditions to Hawaii.

Mexico greets us with "Feliz Navidad." They use candles, red and white poinsettias, evergreens and paper lanterns to decorate their homes. A nativity set is the focus of each family's celebration. They sing lullabies to Jesus at Midnight Mass. The Mexicans reenact the story of Mary and Joseph looking for a place to stay by going from house to house, searching for lodging. After being refused at every house, they return to pray by their own nativity set.

After prayers, a fiesta is held with games for the children, including a Pinata. Children do receive gifts, but Santa Claus is not mentioned too much. If they are very good, they also get gifts from the Three Wise Men on January 6.

"Merry Christmas" or "Christmas ke Shubhashai" is what you hear from those who celebrate the holiday in India. Children walk from house to house, singing carols. Banana or mango trees are decorated and their churches are filled with red flowers. Oil lamps are seen on flat rooftops and walls. New shoes and clothing are purchased on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day is for exchanging gifts and visiting family and friends. Special food includes a homemade ginger wine; pastries died red and pink, a pork dish that includes saffron rice, slivered almonds and raisins. Christmas is also a time when charity is given to the poor.