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17th November, 2009
KARYN MARKWELL
Celebrating Christmas is truly a universal custom!
Most common Christmas traditions - including Christmas cards, crackers, roast turkey, plum puddings, carol singing, mistletoe and stockings - originated in England and are observed worldwide today.
Yet the practice of trimming Christmas trees originated in Germany. After Prince Albert married Queen Victoria, he introduced the Christmas tree tradition to England. In 1848 an American newspaper featured a picture of a Christmas tree and the custom spread to nearly every home in the United States within just a few years.
The poinsettia was introduced to America from Mexico in 1828 by Joel R Poinsett and as its colouring was perfect for Christmas, it began to be sold in stores at Christmastime. By 1900 poinsettias had become a universal symbol of Christmas.
Yet although many different Christmas traditions are celebrated worldwide, most countries also have their own, distinctly unique way of commemorating the birth of Christ. Here's a whirlwind trip examining how six very different countries each celebrate Christmas:
SOUTH AFRICA
'Merry Christmas' in Afrikaans: 'Geseënde Kersfees'.
Christmas in South Africa is characterised by sunshine and relaxed outdoor dining.
Unlike in many other parts of the world, Christmas in South Africa falls during the hot summer months. Most South African families with Dutch or English heritage celebrate Christmas with European traditions such as decorating Christmas trees and giving gifts.
Christian families in South Africa often attend midnight church services on Christmas Eve as well as Christmas Day services. Love offerings are central to Christmas services in South Africa, with money collected donated to impoverished local families.
Christians in South Africa usually celebrate Christmas dinner with their extended family and friends. Plum puddings, mince pies, turkey and roast beef are traditionally served, although increasingly more and more families choose to have casual 'braais' (barbeques) on the beach and in other outdoor settings.
When celebrating Christmas in South Africa, families choose to spend time with their loved ones, sharing a meal together and relaxing.
24th November, 2009
KARYN MARKWELL
DENMARK
'Merry Christmas' in Danish: 'Glædelig Jul'.
Christmas in Denmark is characterised by an abundance of candlelight and home baked treats.
Christmas is Denmark's longest and most popular celebration. There are few places in the world where Christmas is celebrated with such joy and light. As Christmas approaches, the days in Denmark grow shorter, colder and darker. So Danish families light thousands of candles to illuminate their homes, schools and churches: in fact, each year the Danes burn more candles per capita than in any other country on earth.
In Danish churches, Advent - the fourth Sunday before Christmas - is celebrated with special services. In homes, families gather to light the first candle on a beautiful wreath of four tall candles. The other candles are lit one by one in turn each Sunday during the countdown to Christmas.
It's an ancient tradition in Denmark that any visitor who leaves the house without being fed may carry away the Christmas spirit. Therefore, during December, Danish kitchens are filled with the delicious aroma of home baked goods which are lovingly and abundantly shared with all visitors.
Christmas Eve is the most important day in the Danish Christmas calendar and is known as 'Juleaften'. Christmas Eve parties continue all night with a delicious feast of prune-stuffed roast goose, red cabbage, fried pastries and cinnamon rice pudding. No one is forgotten on Christmas Eve: dishes of seeds are even placed outside so wild birds can share in the festivities.
Christmas Day and 26th December (known as 'Second Christmas Day') are both holidays in Denmark and are usually spent in additional celebration with family and friends. Adults drink a warming mixture of red wine, spices and raisins and children drink a sweet fruit juice. Traditional treats include small cakes of batter, cooked over the fire in a special pan and dusted with icing sugar. Gifts are exchanged - traditionally the beautiful Danish Christmas plates, many of which are now collectable items.
2nd December, 2009
KARYN MARKWELL
ISRAEL
'Merry Christmas' in Hebrew: 'Moadim Lesimkha'.
Christmas in Israel is characterised by visiting historical sites in reverence and celebration.
Israel is literally the birthplace of Christianity: 2000 years ago in the tiny village of Bethlehem ('House of Bread'), our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was born in fulfillment of ancient prophecies.
Today, Israel is the world's only Jewish nation - despite its connection with Christianity, Christians consitute less than 4 per cent of the population. Therefore Christmas celebrations are not widely observed in Israel. Nonetheless, every year at Christmastime, local Christians - joined by thousands of pilgrims from all around the world - rejoice out of proportion to their few numbers.
On Christmas Eve, Christian locals and pilgrims crowd the streets and rooftops of Bethlehem to watch a dramatic annual procession. Galloping horsemen lead the parade, followed by a solitary cross bearer riding a black horse. Next come the churchmen and government officials who solemnly enter the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem - traditionally regarded as the birth site of Christ - which is richly decorated for Christmas. They place an ancient effigy of the Christ child in the spot where tradition holds that the manger once stood.
On Christmas Day, thousands of Christians descend the deep winding stairs inside the church to a grotto where a silver star on the floor marks the traditional site of the birth of Jesus. Solemn services held in the church are attended by thousands who praise Christ in prayer and song.
Another popular site visited by pilgrims at Christmastime is the Shepherds' Field located just outside Bethlehem. This is believed to be the location where the shepherds were told of the Good News of Christ's birth by a brilliant choir of rejoicing angels.
Israeli Christian families decorate their homes with nativity scenes and a red cross on their front door.
Christians who live elsewhere in Israel and who cannot travel to Bethlehem at Christmastime will often visit other sites connected with Christ's life and ministry - the Sea of Galilee where He ministered, or Jerusalem where He was betrayed, crucified and resurrected.
8th December, 2009
KARYN MARKWELL
BRAZIL
'Merry Christmas' in Portuguese: 'Feliz Natal'.
Christmas in Brazil is characterised by ancient tradition and colourful merrymaking.
Today's Brazilians are made up of a mixture of different cultures, due to the thousands of immigrants from around the world who made Brazil their new home during the 19th and 20th centuries. These immigrants - most notably the Portuguese - brought their Christmas traditions and adapted them to Brazilian conditions.
During the weeks leading up to Christmas, Brazilian families traditionally create a nativity scene or 'Presépio' (from the word 'presepium' which means the manger in which Christ lay in Bethlehem). Presépios are also displayed in churches and shops throughout Brazil. Huge, colourful Christmas light displays feature each year in Brazil's major cities including Brasilia, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
A very common tradition among friends and families is known as 'amigo secreto' (secret friend). At the beginning of December, participants write their name on a piece of paper. Each participant selects a slip of paper randomly but doesn't reveal whose name they choose. During the countdown to Christmas, participants exchange correspondence using 'apelidos' (fake names). On Christmas Day, the participants gather together to reveal their secret friends and give them special gifts.
As a former Portuguese colony, many families in Brazil are Catholic. On Christmas Eve, devout Brazilians celebrate Mass in the afternoon or early evening. Many families will then share a special 'ceia' (supper) at midnight. On Christmas Day, Masses are held both in the morning and throughout the day. The song Noite Feliz (Silent Night) is a popular Christmas carol sung each year in Brazil.
Families and friends in Brazil usually gather together in the middle of the day to share Christmas dinner. Traditional foods include turkey, ham, coloured rice and fresh vegetable and fruit dishes. An abundance of colour, fun and laughter is exchanged during Christmas dinner, with everyone from the youngest to the oldest heartily giving presents, telling jokes, singing songs and playing games.
15th December, 2009
KARYN MARKWELL
JAPAN
‘Merry Christmas’ in Japanese: ‘Shinnen Omedeto’ or ‘Kurisumasu Omedeto’.
Christmas in Japan is characterised by the absorption of new customs into an ancient culture.
Christmas was originally introduced to the Japanese by Christian missionaries and for many years the only Japanese people who celebrated the holiday were Christian converts. But gradually - most probably due to the influence of Western media and movies - Japanese people have come to accept the holiday. As the Japanese are great lovers of festivals and celebrations, today Christmas is observed almost nationally throughout Japan.
A tiny percentage - only 0.5 per cent - of Japanese people are Christians. On Christmas Day, just like their Christian brothers and sisters around the world, they attend church to commemorate the birth of Christ. For the majority of the nation, however, Christmas is a secular event with no religious significance.
In Japan, many people believe that romantic miracles occur on Christmas Eve. Therefore expensive restaurants and hotels are often fully booked months in advance as couples arrange to spend the evening together. Extending an invitation to someone to spend Christmas Eve with them has deep, romantic implications - similar to someone in the West asking another person out on a date on Valentine’s Day.
The Christmas customs that have been widely adopted by the Japanese include exchanging gifts and in some homes decorating Christmas trees and hanging mistletoe. Presents which are commonly exchanged by the Japanese at Christmastime include teddy bears, flowers and jewellery. Both Christian and non-Christian Japanese people often choose to share an evening meal on Christmas Day with their friends and family, eating traditional foods such as turkey.
Christmas has become important to many Japanese people - who are generally stretched for time - as a welcome opportunity to spend time with their loved ones.
17th December, 2009
KARYN MARKWELL
TANZANIA
‘Merry Christmas’ in Swahili: ‘Kuwa na Krismasi njema’.
Christmas in Tanzania is characterised by great rejoicing, despite widespread poverty and hardship.
Christmas is a time of celebration for Christians all over the world, but nowhere is this more obvious than in the poverty-stricken nation of Tanzania. Here, local Christians have few possessions and their Christmas dinners may be meagre, yet they celebrate the birth of Christ with genuine joy and love for Him.
About a third of all Tanzanians are Christians. They celebrate Christmas during their rainy season when schools are closed for the summer holidays. There’s very little lead-up to Christmas by Tanzanians, as most have very few resources to decorate their homes, purchase or make gifts, or attend pre-Christmas festivities.
But on the actual day, 25th December, Tanzanian Christians joyfully flock to their local church to attend special services. Nativity plays are often enacted by children and the entire congregation takes part in singing carols, hymns and other songs. Church services on Christmas Day often last for several hours.
Tanzanian Christians also visit the homes of relatives and friends on Christmas Day, to convey their greetings and possibly share a mug of chai tea.
Families who can afford to will share a special dinner in the evening, usually comprising of pilau (spicy rice), chicken and chai tea. If the family is wealthier, they may roast a whole goat which they’ll then share with their neighbours.
Due to widespread poverty in Tanzania, especially in rural areas, it’s not common to exchange gifts at Christmastime. If gifts are given, they are usually in the form of schoolbooks, soap, shoes, candles or other practical items. A very special gift would be a set of new clothes which would be proudly worn by the recipient to the Christmas church service.
The dedicated Christians of Tanzania demonstrate a wonderful lesson to the world that Christ, and not tradition or custom, is the central reason to celebrate Christmas Day.
How do you celebrate Christmas? Share your customs, traditions and celebrations with others below... |
