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Discover how Christmas is celebrated in Differents Countries. From unique traditions to festive customs, explore the diverse ways people enjoy this holiday in different countries.
Introduction
Christmas has been among the most popular holidays in the world that has united people of different cultures and origins. Although the nature of the Christmas has always been the same that is, it is a celebration of goodwill, joy and the birth of Jesus Christ, it is important to note that it is People Celebrate Christmas in Different Countries.
Christmas celebrations have a lot of diversity in terms of peculiar customs, traditional cuisines and other forms of decorations, among others. Our article today will be focused on the celebration of Christmas in other countries with emphasis on the peculiarities of these celebrations and traditions that each of the holidays is unique.
People Celebrate Christmas in Different Countries
1. United States: A Festive Display of Lights and Family Gatherings
Christmas in the United States is a big holiday that is characterized by family reunions, exchanging of gifts and decorations. Christmas lights are displayed on the houses of many Americans and I often come across lavish lighting display especially in the suburbs. Christmas trees, both natural and unnatural are decorated with ornaments, tinsel and even popcorn garlands.
One of the traditions is the Santa Claus, who is supposed to visit children at the eve of Christmas giving them presents. The family tends to give gifts and the meal during the festivities like roast turkey, ham and potatoes are served.
Key Traditions:
• Christmas tree decoration
• Santa Claus visits
• Gift-giving
• Christmas lights displays
• Family feasts
2. United Kingdom: Christmas Markets and Christmas Crackers
Christmas celebrate in the UK is a family, friend and festive occasion. The Christmas Advent calendar bridges the gap to the Christmas Day signifying the beginning of the Christmas season. The Christmas cracker, the colorful paper tube that produces a popping noise when banged open, revealing a small package, a paper crown, and a joke is one of the most popular British traditions.
The UK has a national tradition of roasting a turkey, eating Brussels sprouts, and eating mince pies (pastries filled with mincemeat) at Christmas dinner. Another important moment is the Queen Speech when the Queen addresses the nation during Christmas Day.
Key Traditions:
• Christmas crackers
• Advent calendars
• Christmas pudding
• Christmas market visits
• The Queen’s Christmas Speech
3. Germany: The Christmas Market and St. Nicholas’ Day
Germany has very vivid and celebratory Christmas customs and one of the best is the Christmas market. Germany has towns and cities that have Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas markets) where people can purchase handmade ornaments, drink mulled wine (Gluhwein) and eat gingerbread cookies. There is the central figure, the Christkind (Christ Child), who tends to deliver gifts, as Santa Claus.
Besides the Christmas day, the St. Nicholas day (December 6 th) is also celebrated. Children leave their shoes outside, and in the event that they have been good, they get to find them stuffed with sweet and minimal gifts.
Key Traditions:
Weihnachtsmarke (Christmas markets).
• St. Nicholas’ Day
• Gingerbread cookies and Gluhwein.
• Advent wreaths
• Christkind bringing gifts
4. Mexico: Posadas and Festive Celebrations Christmas
Christmas celebrate in Mexico is a very religious and family oriented event. Las Posadas is a major tradition in Mexico during Christmas celebrate as people recreate the episode of the search of a place to stay by Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem
. It is a tradition of processions, singing carols, and visiting the homes of neighbors, and they are either invited inside or they are told that there is no room, as a symbolic expression of the path taken to find a stable.
On the eve of Celebrate Chirstmas, the families go to Misa de Gallo (Midnight Mass) and afterwards, eat a celebratory meal. There is a variety of traditional Mexican food, i.e. tamales, bacalao (salted cod), and romeritos (dish made of herbs).
Key Traditions:
• Las Posadas processions
• Misa de Gallo (Midnight Mass)
• Tamales and festive meals
• Piñatas and fireworks
• Navideño (Christmas carols)
5. Australia: A Sunny Christmas with BBQs and Beach Fun
Christmas in Australia is seen in summer and therefore the holiday is celebrated in the open air. Most Australians spend time in the beach or have a Christmas barbecue with the family and friends. Christmas in Australia is not known as being snowy, but rather as being hot and such traditional Christmas foods as pavlova (meringue-based dessert) and shrimp on the barbie (barbecued shrimp) are common.
During the school holidays since Christmas happens during the school holidays, the children are at home and families go on vacation due to the warm weather.
Key Traditions:
• Christmas barbecues and beach parties.
. Christmas Day Cricket Matches.
• Pavlova and seafood
• Christmas picnics
• Carols by Candlelight shows.
6. Italy: La Vigilia and Feast of the Seven Fishes
Christmas in Italy is a food oriented family-based celebration. La Vigilia is the name of the Christmas Eve feast, which is a significant tradition of most Italian families. The food is typically more than one course and Feast of the Seven Fishes is one of the traditions in southern Italy wherein different kinds of seafood are served.
During the Christmas Day, most Italians go to Midnight Mass and have dinner with their companions. Italian desserts which include panettone (a sweet bread stuffed with dried fruits) and pandoro (star-shaped cake) are served as traditional Italian desserts.
Key Traditions:
• La Vigilia (dinner on Christmas eve)
• Feast of the Seven Fishes
• Panettone and Pandoro
• Midnight Mass
• Nativity scenes (Presepe)
7. Sweden: St. Lucia Day and Christmas Smorgasbord
Christmas in Sweden is a holiday that is celebrated both religiously and secularly. St. The Swedish Christmas season commences on the second day of December (13th December), and a long procession of children in white robes bring out singing Christmas carols and carrying saffransbullar (saffron buns).
Swedes also feast on the Christmas smorgasbord that consists of numerous conventional dishes like herring, meatballs, lutfisk (dried fish), and julskinka (Christmas ham). Julklapp is a Swedish tradition of gift giving which also forms an essential part of the Christmas celebration.
Key Traditions:
• St. Lucia Day
• Christmas smorgasbord
• Julklapp (gift exchange)
• Advent candles
• Christmas carols
FAQs About People Celebrate Christmas in Different Countries
1. So what is the meaning of the Christmas tree?
The Christmas tree is also a major emblem in most Christmas events as it represents life and rebirth. Other countries such as the United States, the UK and Germany usually adorn it with lights and ornaments and tinsel.
2. Why are there countries that do not celebrate Christmas on the same days?
Most countries observe Christmas on the 25 th of December except some countries such as Russia and Ethiopia who observe it on the 7 th of January according to the Julian calendar.
3. What is the way people celebrate Christmas in the Scandinavian countries?
Scandinavian countries such as Sweden and Norway associate Christmas with Christmas food, traditional baked goods and events such as the St. Lucia Day. A Julbord, or Christmas buffet, also is favoured by many and consists of a range of traditional foods.
4. Are Christmas markets in every country?
Nay, Christmas markets are particularly loved in Germany, Austria, and other Europe. Nevertheless, there are also numerous countries that have their own versions of Christmas markets such as the US or the UK.
5. What is the most popular Christmas food?
Although the food eaten during Christmas differs according to the country, in most of the western nations, foods eaten during this period are roast turkey, ham, stuffing and potatoes. Christmas pudding, gingerbread and fruitcake are popular as dessert.
Conclusion:People Celebrate Christmas in Different Countries
Christmas is celebrated in a variety of diverse ways all over the world in each country bringing its own particular traditions, food, and cultural impact on the holiday. It can be the Christmas markets in Germany, the Christmas barbecues in Australia, or the Christmas eve dinner in Italy, Christmas traditions provide humanity with a great fabric of customs that make the period of Christmas special to people all over the world.
Although the spirit of Christmas has always been the same, i.e. the spirit of joy, goodwill, and spirit of giving, the variety of way in which people celebrate Christmas is the reflection of the beauty of cultural diversity and the world unity that this holiday brings.
