Christmas Around the World
Christmas in the Birthplaces of Traditions -- Bethlehem, Germany and England
Christmas as celebrated today is a culmination of centuries of traditions
that are religious and secular and which came from different countries
around the world. It is interesting therefore to look at some of the general
ways in which Christmas is celebrated in these countries. The traditions
examined for each country will be examples of some of the things that are
unique to that country and which are done today, or which were once done
by people in
those countries.
To begin, it is symbolic to look at the town of Bethlehem,
which is believed to be the birthplace of Jesus. The Church of the Nativity
is located in Bethlehem and at Christmas it is decorated with a lot of
flags and other Christmas decorations. A very large crowd usually gathers
at The Church of the Nativity on Christmas Eve to see a dramatic parade
procession of horsemen, led by police who are mounted on Arabian horses.
Following the police in the procession is a lone horseman who carries a
cross, followed by churchmen and government officials. Members of the procession
solemnly enter the doors of The Church of the Nativity and place an ancient
effigy of Jesus in the church. A
silver star located deep in an underground cave-like section of the
church marks the site where Jesus was born. A star is also set atop a pole
in the town's square. In Bethlehem, homes of Christians usually have a
cross over the door and a manger scene is usually set up inside the house.
In Germany, home of the Christmas tree tradition, the
Christmas tree is not seen until Christmas Eve. The tree is usually kept
in a special room, or elsewhere, and decorated in secret with lights, ornaments,
tinsels, angels, candies, nuts and cookies. It is then lighted, the presents
placed underneath and then shown to the delight of Children on Christmas
Eve. In Germany, Dec. 6 is known as St. Nicholas Day when Santa visits
the homes of boys and girls. On
the day before, Dec. 5, children leave a shoe or boot outside or by
the fireplace for Santa Claus. If they were good, he places gifts and candies
inside the shoe. But if they were naughty, children will find twigs or
a rod in their shoe. Dinner on Christmas Day includes roast goose, long
loaves of bread filled with raisins, nuts and dried fruits. Other sweet
delicacies are also enjoyed.
Many traditions in England are similar to those in the United States because such traditions originated in England and were brought to the United States by immigrants. The tradition of sending Christmas greeting cards started in England and is still popular at Christmas, as well as the tradition of neighborhood caroling on Christmas Eve. Children also hang stockings on Christmas Eve in anticipation of Santa Claus filling them with Christmas gifts or treats. The holly, ivy and mistletoe are also used a lot in Christmas decorations. In England, the traditional Christmas Dinner is roast turkey, goose or chicken with stuffing, vegetables and roast potatoes. Dessert consists of the British or Christmas pudding with brandy sauce. A rich, fruit-filled Christmas cake may also be enjoyed later in the day. A tradition of pulling Christmas crackers also goes with the serving of food on Christmas Day. A cracker is a paper tube that contains a party hat, riddle, toy or trinket, and is brightly colored and twisted at both ends. It gives out a crack as the contents pop out when it is pulled at each end. Also on Christmas afternoon, the Queen broadcasts a Christmas message to the nation, which is heard on radio and television. The day after Christmas is also a holiday that is known as Boxing Day.
Christmas In Other European Countries
In Finland, Christmas Eve is the traditional time to set up the
Christmas tree and it's also traditional to visit the sauna and for families
to listen to a broadcast of the national 'Peace of Christmas' on the radio.
Christmas Dinner
generally consists of a main dish of boiled codfish that is snowy and
fluffy in appearance, served with cream sauce and boiled potatoes. Christmas
dinner is rounded out with roast suckling pig or roasted fresh ham and
vegetables. Among
peasants, there is a tradition to tie a sheaf of grain, with nuts and
seeds, to a pole that is put in a garden for birds. Many peasants will
wait until after the birds have eaten before having their Christmas Dinner.
And Santa Claus is
expected to visit homes in person with his Christmas elves to give
out Christmas gifts.
Christmas in France is called Noel, from the phrase 'les bonnes
nouvelles,' or 'the good news,' which refers to the gospel. On Christmas
Eve, cathedrals and churches are beautifully lit and filled with the sounds
of Christmas carols,
ringing church bells and carillons. The tradition among children is
to put their shoes by the fireplace for Pere Noel or le petit Jesus to
fill them with gifts. In the north of France however, children receive
gifts on Dec. 6, St. Nicholas Day, instead of Christmas. Most French homes
will have a Nativity scene or crèche on display during the season.
In Southern France, some people will burn a log in their home from Christmas
Eve until New Years Day, which comes out of a farming tradition of using
the log for good luck in the coming harvest. The French also make a traditional
cake called the buche de Noel, or Christmas Log, which is shaped like a
Yule log and is part of a late supper called le reveillon held after Midnight
Mass on Christmas Eve. The main dish for this meal generally consists of
poultry, ham, salads, cake, fruit and wine but varies according to region.
The main course in Burgundy is turkey with chestnuts and in Paris it's
oysters, foie gras and the buche de Noel cake. The wines generally served
are Champagne, Muscadet, Sauterne and Anjou. An annual tradition of puppet
shows, particularly in Paris and Lyons, is popular during Christmas time.
In Paris, it's also popular for big department stores to have grand, animated
window displays.
Christmas in Italy is called 'Il Natale,' or 'the birthday.'
Christmas season starts eight days before Christmas, a period called the
Novena, and runs for three weeks. During the Novena, children dress as
shepherds and go from house to
house saying Christmas poems, singing and playing pipes. They often
receive money to buy gifts during this activity. The Nativity scene, called
the Presepio, has miniature figures, carved in great detail out of clay
or plaster, of the Holy Family in the stable and is the center of Christmas
for families. Families say prayers and children recite poems around the
Presepio. Christmas Eve dinner, called cenone, is a traditional dish of
roasted, baked or fried eel. In some regions, various types of fish
is prepared for this dinner, as well as pork, sausage in a pig's leg or
turkey stuffed with chestnuts. Christmas sweets are called panettone and
traditionally have nuts and almonds. On Christmas Eve,
children set out their shoes for a kind, old woman or ugly witch called
La Befana, who rides on a broomstick down chimneys, to fill them with gifts
of toys or candies. If they were bad, their shoes will be filled with coal.
Some
children wait until Jan. 6, the Epiphany, to receive gifts.
Norway is where the tradition of the Yule log started and which
gave rise to log-shaped cakes, cheese and other desserts during the holidays.
Norwegians today often go into the forest to cut their own Christmas trees,
which is
secretly decorated on Christmas Eve to surprise children. After the
Christmas tree is revealed, Norwegians engage in 'circling the Christmas
tree,' a tradition in which everyone joins hands forming a ring around
the tree. They then walk around the Christmas tree singing carols. Gifts
are distributed after this ritual is finished.