|
| |
England
Father Christmas, who reigns in the place of Santa Claus or St. Nicholas, is depicted
wearing long robes with sprigs of holly in his long white hair. Letters are sent to him by
children who want to make sure he has got their order right. These letters are not mailed
though; they are thrown into the fireplace. If they go up the chimney, the wish will be
granted; if not, one's wish goes ungranted. Stockings are hung by the chimney or at the
foot of the child's bed to receive small presents, which are opened Christmas morning. The
Christmas tree has occupied a central position in the festivities, however, it has never
completely replaced the combination of greenery & mistletoe called the kissing bough.
Bringing in the Yule log and the boar's head are not commonplace today. In the countryside
you can find Christmas mummers who perform plays and waits still carol through the
streets. In a place in Yorkshire, the tolling of the devil's knell takes place every
Christmas Eve. The church bell is rung once for every year since Christ's birth with the
last stroke timed exactly for midnight. The Christmas meal consists of roast turkey or
beef and desserts are mincemeat pies and plum puddings.
Back to top |
France
Nearly every French home at Christmastime displays a Nativity scene or crèche, which
serves as the focus for the Christmas celebration. The crèche is often peopled with
little clay figures called santons or "little saints." An extensive tradition
has evolved around these little figures which are made by craftsmen in the south of France
throughout the year. In addition to the usual Holy Family, shepherds, and Magi, the
craftsmen also produce figures in the form of local dignitaries and characters. The
Christmas tree has never been particularly popular in France, and though the use of the
Yule log has faded, the French make a traditional Yule log-shaped cake called the buche de
Nol, which means "Christmas Log." The cake, among other food in great abundance
is served at the grand feast of the season, which is called le rveillon. Le rveillon is a
very late supper held after midnight mass on Christmas Eve. The menu for the meal varies
according to regional culinary tradition. In Alsace, goose is the main course; in
Brittany, buckwheat cakes with sour cream; in Burgundy it is turkey with chestnuts, and
the Parisians feast upon oysters and pat de foie gras. French children receive gifts from
Pere Noel who travels with his stern disciplinarian companion Pre Fouettard. Pre Fouettard
reminds Pere Noel of just how each child has behaved during the past year. In some parts
of France Pere Noel brings small gifts on St. Nicholas Eve (December 6) and visits again
on Christmas. In other places it is le petit Jesus who brings the gifts. Generally adults
wait until New Year's Day to exchange gifts.
Back to top |
Germany
The German Christmas is a very important time to each person and family. Preparations are
made for weeks. Advent wreaths, candles and calendars set the mood. St. Nicholas' Day,
December 6 marks the beginning of the season. Although the crib is often found in German
homes, the tree is the center of attention. The custom began in Germany & every home
must have one. Usually it is the mother who decorates the tree and no one is allowed in
until it is finished. It is the Christkind who brings the presents, accompanied by one of
its many devilish companions, Knecht Rupprecht, Pelznickle, Ru-Klas, or one of the other
monstrous playmates created by this nation, which is known for its fairy tales. The
highlight of the Christmas food is the cookies. There are dozens of different Cookies,
shaped like figures of Christmas or stamped with familiar designs. Edible trees and tiny
baked brown gnomes fill the warm kitchens for a week before the festivities.
Back to top
|
Greece
St. Nicholas is important in Greece as the patron saint of sailors. According to Greek
tradition, his clothes are drenched with brine, his beard drips with seawater, and his
face is covered with perspiration because he has been working hard against the waves to
reach sinking ships and rescue them from the angry sea. To members of the Eastern Orthodox
Church, as are most Greek Christians, Christmas ranks second to Easter in the roster of
important holidays. Yet there are a number of unique customs associated with Christmas
that are uniquely Greek. On Christmas Eve, village children travel from house to house
offering good wishes and singing kalanda, the equivalent of carols. Often the songs are
accompanied by small metal triangles and little clay drums. The children are frequently
rewarded with sweets and dried fruits. After 40 days of fasting, the Christmas feast is
looked forward to with great anticipation by adults and children alike. Pigs are
slaughtered and on almost every table are loaves of christopsomo ("Christ
Bread"). This bread is made in large sweet loaves of various shapes and the crusts
are engraved and decorated in some way that reflects the family's profession. Christmas
trees are not commonly used in Greece. In almost every home the main symbol of the season
is a shallow wooden bowl with a piece of wire is suspended across the rim; from that hangs
a sprig of basil wrapped around a wooden cross. A small amount of water is kept in the
bowl to keep the basil alive and fresh. Once a day, a family member, usually the mother,
dips the cross and basil into some holy water and uses it to sprinkle water in each room
of the house. This ritual is believed to keep the Killantzaroi away from the house. There
are a number of beliefs connected with the Killantzaroi, which are a species of goblins or
sprites who appear only during the 12-day period from Christmas to the Epiphany (January
6). These creatures are believed to emerge from the center of the earth and to slip into
people's house through the chimney. More mischievous than actually evil, the Killantzaroi
do things like extinguish fires, ride astride people's backs, braid horses' tails, and
sour the milk. To further repel the undesirable sprites, the hearth is kept burning day
and night throughout the twelve days. Gifts are exchanged on St. Basil's Day (January 1).
On this day the "renewal of waters" also takes place, a ritual in which all
water jugs in the house are emptied and refilled with new "St. Basil's Water."
The ceremony is often accompanied by offerings to the naiads, spirits of springs and
fountains.
Back to top
|
Guatemala
For nine days before Christmas, posada processions pass through the streets. The beat of
drums and the crackle of fireworks provide lively accompaniment as the figures of Mary and
Joseph are carried to a friend's house, where a carol is sung asking for lodging for the
Holy Family. After ritual questions and answers, the doors are opened and Mary and Joseph
are taken to the nacimiento, or manger scene, where they will remain until the next night,
when they once again go out seeking shelter. Everyone who accompanies the figures on their
quest makes a great party with punch and hot tamales and dancing once the goal is
accomplished. On Christmas Eve, the figure of the Christ Child is added to the nacimiento
at the last of the nine houses to receive the Holy Family. This is the signal for the
biggest party of all, and the home selected had better be a large one, since everyone who
was involved over the last nine days will show up on this night. The Christmas tree has
joined the nacimiento as a popular ornament because of the large German population in
Guatemala. Gifts are left under the tree on Christmas morning by the Christ Child for the
children. Parents and adults do not exchange gifts until New Year's Day. Midnight Mass on
Christmas Eve follows the posada and is in turn followed by a full supper.
Back to top
|
Holland
In the Netherlands St. Nicholas is known as Sinterklaas. To the Dutch, St. Nicholas' Day
is the time of greatest revelry in the Christmas season. St. Nicholas comes on the last
Saturday of November by steamer. As he comes into the port of Amsterdam, all business and
traffic stops as the people pour out to greet him. He disembarks with his servant Black
Peter and riding his white horse. He is dressed in traditional bishop's robes while Black
Peter wears Spanish attire. They are greeted by the mayor and lead a great parade through
the streets to the royal palace. Here all the royal children are waiting and must give
accounts of their behavior over the past year, just as all Dutch children must do. After
the princes and princesses have proved their worth, the parade continues to a major hotel,
where St. Nicholas will establish his headquarters for the season. December 5, St.
Nicholas' Eve, is when the presents are exchanged. The presents are called
"surprises" because they are disguised as much as possible to make the final
discovery more delightful. A small gift may be wrapped inside a huge box, or hidden inside
a vegetable, or sunk in a pudding. A large gift may lurk in the cellar with clues to its
location. All surprises must be accompanied by a bit of verse. On Christmas itself, there
are no presents. There are church services both Christmas Eve and morning and a big dinner
in the evening. The Christmas tree is the center of the home celebration, which consists
of carols and story-telling in the afternoon. December 26 is also a holiday, called Second
Christmas Day, and is a time to relax and probably go out to eat. The people of Twente in
east Holland hold a special Advent ceremony in which special horns are blown to chase away
evil spirits and to announce the birth of Christ. Horns are homemade out of one-year-old
saplings and are three or four feet long. Blown over wells, they sound a deep tone,
similar to a foghorn.
Back to top
|
India
Because India is mainly Hindu and Moslem, there is no official celebration of Christmas.
However, this time of year is looked upon as an appropriate time for gift-giving and
tipping or giving "baksheesh," charitable hand-outs to the poor of the country.
Christians in India decorate mango or banana trees at Christmas time. Sometimes they also
decorate their houses with mango leaves. In some parts of India, small clay oil-burning
lamps are used as Christmas decorations; they are placed on the edges of flat roofs and on
the tops of walls. Churches are decorated with poinsettias and lit with candles for the
Christmas Even service.
Back to top
|
Iran
Iran, formerly Persia, is the land where the Three Wise men are believed to have lived
when Jesus was born. Today Christians in Iran begin fasting from animal products on
December 1. This is called "Little Fast." "Big Fast" occurs during
Lent, the six weeks preceding Easter. After Church service of December 25 they enjoy
Christmas dinner which they call "Little Feast." A traditional dish is a chicken
stew called harasa. Gifts are generally not exchanged but children get new clothes which
they wear proudly on Christmas Day.
Back to top
|
Iraq
On Christmas Eve, Iraqi Christian families gather together and one of the children read
about the birth of Jesus while other family members hold lighted candles. Afterward the
reading, a bonfire of thorn bushes is let and everyone sings. If the thorns burn to ashes,
good luck will be granted for the coming year. When the fire dies, each person jumps over
the ashes three times and makes a wish. On Christmas Day another bonfire is lit in the
churchyard. The bishop, carrying a figure of the Baby Jesus leads the service. Afterwards
he blesses one person with a touch. That person touches the person next to him or her and
the touch is passed around until all present have felt the "touch of peace."
Back to top |
Ireland
To the Irish, Christmas is a time for religious celebration rather than revelry. The
manger scene is in most houses and there are a few Christmas trees. The best-known
Christmas custom is that of putting a candle in the window, often decorated with some
greenery, on Christmas Eve. The idea is to help light the way of the Holy Family or any
other poor traveler out on such a night. After the evening meal, the table is also set
with bread and milk and the door left unlocked as a symbol of hospitality that the family
is offering to Mary and Joseph and the little one to come. The only festive note that is
struck is in the pudding that caps the meal. Three puddings are made early in December,
one each for Christmas, New Year's, and Twelfth Night. The day after Christmas, St.
Stephen's Day, witnesses the rowdy old custom of hunting the wren, when boys go from door
to door with a wren on a stick (today the wren is not a real one), singing the traditional
song and begging for treats.
Back to top
|
|
|
Back To
Christmas Traditions |
Home |
|
