admin
|
CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLDCHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD
We all know Christmas as a time for presents, enormous amounts of food, family gatherings, carols and turkey dinner. But what about the rest of the world?
Christmas is still celebrated in some countries where Christians are a minority, and in others there are different festivals that predate the birth of Jesus Christ by hundreds of years. Read on to find out about the origins of Christmas Day and how the rest of the world celebrates the season.
Happy birthday, dear Jesus?
Although we celebrate 25 December as Christ’s birthday, there is much
evidence that points towards Jesus’ actual birth being either in autumn or the spring. So why do we celebrate on this day? The answer can be found by looking at our religious history.
Most winter festivals are around the time of the winter solstice, when nights have become longer and daylight hours much shorter. Because traditionally people rely on warm weather and long days to grow crops or hunt and gather food, the darker, colder days made people fearful and anxious about the future.
Before the official recognition of Christianity by the Romans in the fourth century AD, the major religious cults were pagan. The Roman winter festival of Saturnalia culminated on 25 December with the celebration of the rebirth of the sun god – signalling longer days, warmer weather and hope for the coming year.
When the Romans did adopt Christianity as an official religion, despite trying to abolish the pagan winter festival, they found that it was so well established that they adopted it into the Christian calendar. As a result, 25 December came to be celebrated as the day of Christ’s birth.
Christmas in Europe
As well as the usual Christmas traditions, some areas of Spain have a unique practice, which you won't find anywhere else. Hogueras (bonfires) are lit to mark the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year and the beginning of winter.
People jump over the fires as a symbolic protection against illness, and it is thought that this tradition originated long before Christmas itself.
Christmas in Spain continues for a number of weeks after 25 December, and on the eve of Epiphany (5 January) children leave their shoes outside to be filled with presents by the Three Wise Men.
Germany has a similar tradition: children leave a shoe or boot outside their door before they go to bed on 6 December, known as Nikolaustag. If they have been good that year, the next morning they will find it filled with gifts. But if they haven't, they will wake up to find it filled with twigs.
Germany is also thought to be where the Christmas tree originated from. The common belief is that Martin Luther, the 16th-century founder of the Reformation, was walking home one night and was struck by the beauty of the fir trees in the moonlight. He cut one down and took it home, decorating it with candles, which he lit in honour of Christ's birth.
In Italy, children have to wait until Epiphany, 6 January, for their presents. According to tradition, gifts are delivered by a kind, though ugly, witch called Befana, who arrives on a broomstick. The story says that although she was told by the Three Kings that the baby Jesus was born, she missed His birth and has been flying round ever since, leaving presents in every house in case He is there.
CHRISTMAS IN SCANDINAVIA
In Sweden, Christmas begins on the morning of 13 December with the Saint Lucia ceremony. The youngest daughter from the family puts on a white robe, red sash and a crown of fir and candles, wakes up her parents and serves them coffee and Lucia buns.
This ceremony is to remember Lucia, a Christian martyred for her beliefs in the fourth century, and also welcomes the return of the sun.
After Christmas Eve dinner, a family member will dress up as Tomte, the Christmas gnome, and give out presents, often with a funny rhyme that hints at the contents.
In Finland, the Christmas tree is put up on Christmas Eve and decorated with fruit, sweets, paper flags, cotton, tinsel and candles. On Christmas Day, the family sits down to a traditional meal of boiled codfish served with allspice, boiled potatoes and cream sauce.
Instead of Santa Claus, Norway's gift bringer is known as the Julenissen – a little gnome who delivers the presents on Christmas Eve. These little versions of Father Christmas are a very old tradition, dating back to before the Nativity. 'Jule' means Christmas (as in our Yule) and 'nisse' is thought to be derived from St Nicholas, the patron saint of children.
CHRISTMAS IN THE Far East
Christmas is not widely celebrated in China, although it is observed by some. Chinese Christmas trees are known as 'trees of light', and Santa Claus is Dun Che Lao Ren, which means Christmas Old Man.
For non-Christian Chinese, this season heralds the festival of Dong Zhi, or 'the arrival of winter', and falls on 22 December. The festival originates from the time when people would celebrate having gathered in the crops for storage over winter and the return of the workers who had been away gathering provisions for the cold winter months.
In Japan, most of the population are either Shintoist or Buddhist, and less than one per cent of the population believe in Christ. However, people still enjoy decorating their houses and exchanging gifts. The children believe that one of the Japanese gods, Hoteiosho, brings their presents. He keeps watch over their behaviour throughout the year with the eyes he has in the back of his head.
As an interesting side note, the hugely successful marketing drive by Kentucky Fried Chicken seems to have convinced some Japanese that a KFC is enjoyed at Christmas in the West, prompting long queues to pick up their order from outlets
Christmas in Australia
Australians celebrate in much the same way as the British: with a big meal, presents and carols. But there's one important difference – it’s the height of summer.
Seasonal temperatures can reach as high as 40°C, and because of the climate many people have swapped the traditional turkey dinner for family picnics and barbecues in the garden or local parks. Some Australians head for their local beach, and Sydney’s Bondi Beach attracts thousands of people on 25 December.
Santa Claus is still very busy down under, but some Australian children believe that the Swag Man will deliver their presents instead. Dressed far more suitably for the weather – with a brown Akubra (wide-brimmed hat), blue shirt and long baggy shorts – he spends all winter under Uluru (Ayers Rock) with his merry dingoes. At Christmas time, he gets in his huge 4x4 and sets off to deliver presents.
CHRISTMAS IN AMERICA
Americans celebrate Christmas in much the same way as people in the United Kingdom – with family gatherings, roast turkey and presents underneath the Christmas tree. They do, however, have their own modern, seasonal traditions.
Every year, carol singers gather at the base of the 'Nation's Christmas Tree', a 267-ft sequoia, in California's Kings Canyon National Park. Thousands flock to Hollywood, California, for the annual Parade of Stars, while others meet at Balboa Park in San Diego for Christmas concerts on the world's largest outdoor pipe organ.
A little-known fact is that the first Christmas to be celebrated in America was actually a Spanish one. Hernando de Soto and his army set up their winter camp in what is now Tallahassee, Florida, in 1539, before the English settlers arrived.
Happy KwanzaaOn 26 December,
African Americans celebrate Kwanzaa, a holiday that originates from the time of the civil rights movement in the 1960s and commemorates African heritage. Family and friends gather together to exchange gifts and to light a series of black, red and green candles to symbolise the seven principles of African-American family life.
The celebration lasts for seven days. One candle is lit on each of the days, with a big feast on the last day, when presents are given. Its name comes from the Swahili phrase 'matunda ya kwanza', meaning 'first fruits'. An additional 'a' was added to the Swahili 'kwanza' so that the word would have seven letters – one for each of the seven principles.
CHRISTMAS IN SOUTH AMERICA
In Brazil, children are visited by Papai Noel, who according to legend lives in Greenland and arrives wearing silk clothing because of the summer heat.
Christmas is celebrated with dancing and singing, and festivities go on until 6 January, which the Brazilians call Three Kings Day – their name for Epiphany, when the Three Wise Men visited Jesus bearing gifts.
Throughout Christmas in Guatemala, several religious statues are taken for long processions through the streets. At the rear of the parade is a picture of God – His white-bearded face resembling a department store Santa Claus. Festivities end at midnight on Christmas Eve with a Misa de Gallo, which means 'Mass of the Rooster'.
During the Christmas season in Bolivia, both the homes and churches feature a pesebre, or Nativity scene. The church bells call people to mass on Christmas Eve, and as soon as they return to their homes the feasting begins. Bolivian children have to wait until Epiphany (6 January) for their gifts, which are brought not by Santa, but the Three Kings.
|
