Christmas across the world
Dec 22, 2006
CHRISTMAS is a time when the whole world makes merry in commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Different countries celebrate Christmas differently. Here are some Christmas practices around the world.
CHRISTMAS is a time when the whole world makes merry in commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Different countries celebrate Christmas differently. Here are some Christmas practices around the world.
Italy
The festive season starts about three weeks to Christmas; children move from house to house reciting poems and singing. Twenty-four hours before Christmas, a special fast is observed, followed by a special meal, served with chocolate and cake. In the Vatican, canons are fired at midnight to announce the arrival of Christmas and a special mass commences. The Pope appears at the Vatican Square at noon on Christmas Day to bless a mammoth crowd.
Bethlehem
Christmas sets this little town, where Jesus is said to have been born, ablaze with flags and decorations. Crosses are painted on Christians’ doors and a home-made manger scene is set up.
On Christmas eve, natives and visitors crowd churches to watch the dramatic annual procession. Men mounted on Arabian horses lead the way, followed by a solitary horseman carrying a cross, the clergy and government officials. The procession enters and places an ancient effigy of The Holy Child in the centre of the church.
Brazil
People decorate their houses with fresh flowers, Christmas trees and lights. Electric lights and fireworks capture the skylines of the big cities like Rio De Janeiro and Brasilia. The Presepio, a bed of straw on which Baby Jesus lay in a manger after birth, is made and displayed in churches, homes and stores. Father Christmas, known as Papi Noel, brings the children gifts. Most people attend the midnight mass as they sleep-in late on Christmas mornings, after the customary late night dinner. On the afternoon of Christmas, they go to the beach, have picnics and parties and sleep late.
Finland
The Finnish believe that Santa Claus lives in the northern part of their country, which is very cold. On Christmas Eve, people eat porridge and dance away to music. Prayers are held in the morning, after the traditional breakfast of plum fruit juice. Many families will visit cemeteries and graveyards to place a candle on the graves of their deceased loved ones.
Spain
Here, the festivities begin on December 8 with the feast of Immaculate Conception, which is celebrated before the Gothical Cathedral in Seville to commemorate The Madonna’s divine conception.
Christmas Eve is known as The Good Night, a time for families to get together. The traditional Christmas treat is turron, an almond candy.
Portugal
The festivities are similar to those in Spain. People pretend that Santa Claus brings children presents on Christmas Eve. A special Christmas meal of salted dry codfish and boiled potatoes is eaten at midnight on Christmas Eve.
However, the Portuguese enjoy an additional feast called consoada in the early hours of Christmas, where extra seats are left empty at a table and crumbs left for the deceased.
Japan
Christmas was introduced there by the missionaries and for long, was an affair for only Christian converts (who form only 1% of the populace). But of late, it has been adopted by the whole country; seen as a precursor to the New Year celebrations, which is Japan’s most revered day of the year. The few Christians do not take it as a day for fun; rather it is a day spent doing nice things for others, especially the sick in hospital.
Africa
Across Africa, Christmas is a time for family to get together and celebrate. Those who work in the cities return to the countryside to enjoy the season with relatives. Special food is prepared – the best delicacies in each country. On Christmas, most people attend church and return home in the afternoon for lunch and a night of dancing and drinking.
China
There are few Christians in China, so the season is celebrated as the spring festival. People pay respect to their meals and make merry. Children receive new clothing and toys. But the Christians celebrate after the manner of Europeans; special meals of turkey and rice, decorated houses and prayers.
Great Britain
The festivities begin weeks before Christmas and there is no break until the New Year. People prepare special food, send greeting cards and decorate houses and churches. On Christmas Eve, children hung their stockings on beds or by the chimney so that Father Christmas leaves them a gift.
On Christmas morning, the family opens their gifts and prepares a special meal served after mid-day. The tables gleam with the best china and glassware. After the meal, they watch television for the traditional Christmas speech of the monarch. In the afternoon, they visit neighbours and other family members.
Compiled by Joseph Ssemutooke
Italy
The festive season starts about three weeks to Christmas; children move from house to house reciting poems and singing. Twenty-four hours before Christmas, a special fast is observed, followed by a special meal, served with chocolate and cake. In the Vatican, canons are fired at midnight to announce the arrival of Christmas and a special mass commences. The Pope appears at the Vatican Square at noon on Christmas Day to bless a mammoth crowd.
Bethlehem
Christmas sets this little town, where Jesus is said to have been born, ablaze with flags and decorations. Crosses are painted on Christians’ doors and a home-made manger scene is set up.
On Christmas eve, natives and visitors crowd churches to watch the dramatic annual procession. Men mounted on Arabian horses lead the way, followed by a solitary horseman carrying a cross, the clergy and government officials. The procession enters and places an ancient effigy of The Holy Child in the centre of the church.
Brazil
People decorate their houses with fresh flowers, Christmas trees and lights. Electric lights and fireworks capture the skylines of the big cities like Rio De Janeiro and Brasilia. The Presepio, a bed of straw on which Baby Jesus lay in a manger after birth, is made and displayed in churches, homes and stores. Father Christmas, known as Papi Noel, brings the children gifts. Most people attend the midnight mass as they sleep-in late on Christmas mornings, after the customary late night dinner. On the afternoon of Christmas, they go to the beach, have picnics and parties and sleep late.
Finland
The Finnish believe that Santa Claus lives in the northern part of their country, which is very cold. On Christmas Eve, people eat porridge and dance away to music. Prayers are held in the morning, after the traditional breakfast of plum fruit juice. Many families will visit cemeteries and graveyards to place a candle on the graves of their deceased loved ones.
Spain
Here, the festivities begin on December 8 with the feast of Immaculate Conception, which is celebrated before the Gothical Cathedral in Seville to commemorate The Madonna’s divine conception.
Christmas Eve is known as The Good Night, a time for families to get together. The traditional Christmas treat is turron, an almond candy.
Portugal
The festivities are similar to those in Spain. People pretend that Santa Claus brings children presents on Christmas Eve. A special Christmas meal of salted dry codfish and boiled potatoes is eaten at midnight on Christmas Eve.
However, the Portuguese enjoy an additional feast called consoada in the early hours of Christmas, where extra seats are left empty at a table and crumbs left for the deceased.
Japan
Christmas was introduced there by the missionaries and for long, was an affair for only Christian converts (who form only 1% of the populace). But of late, it has been adopted by the whole country; seen as a precursor to the New Year celebrations, which is Japan’s most revered day of the year. The few Christians do not take it as a day for fun; rather it is a day spent doing nice things for others, especially the sick in hospital.
Africa
Across Africa, Christmas is a time for family to get together and celebrate. Those who work in the cities return to the countryside to enjoy the season with relatives. Special food is prepared – the best delicacies in each country. On Christmas, most people attend church and return home in the afternoon for lunch and a night of dancing and drinking.
China
There are few Christians in China, so the season is celebrated as the spring festival. People pay respect to their meals and make merry. Children receive new clothing and toys. But the Christians celebrate after the manner of Europeans; special meals of turkey and rice, decorated houses and prayers.
Great Britain
The festivities begin weeks before Christmas and there is no break until the New Year. People prepare special food, send greeting cards and decorate houses and churches. On Christmas Eve, children hung their stockings on beds or by the chimney so that Father Christmas leaves them a gift.
On Christmas morning, the family opens their gifts and prepares a special meal served after mid-day. The tables gleam with the best china and glassware. After the meal, they watch television for the traditional Christmas speech of the monarch. In the afternoon, they visit neighbours and other family members.
Compiled by Joseph Ssemutooke