AChristmas Traditions around the World

Christmas traditions around the world are as colorful and have as much tradition as we do in America. In India, they celebrate a traditional Christmas in much the same way as we do. It's an official holiday, people attend church, and Hindu children that go to missionary school participate in the festivities. The educational system takes a holiday beginning right before Christmas and goes through the first few days of the New Year. They call it Bada din or the big day, and it revolves around shopping and Santa Claus too.

In Japan Christmas tradition does not include an official holiday and has less importance than New Year's Day. Santa Claus is not as important to the Japanese as he is to Americans. New Year's Day is the official day to get together with family. Christmas tradition is more a day for lovers. They celebrate by having a special date and strolling around looking at Christmas lights erected by companies to make it feel more romantic. One of the highlights of the traditional Christmas season in Japan is the giving of the traditional Christmas cake, a white-frosted cake symbolizing a birthday cake for Jesus. It often has strawberries on it.

Christmas tradition in the Philippines is started with nine-day dawn masses that start on December 16. The Philippines celebrate the world's longest Christmas tradition. Family members eat together on Christmas Eve after midnight mass.

South America is heavily Catholic so the religious aspect of the Christmas tradition is predominating. Their celebrations are a mixture of Christmas traditions from both Europe and Native Americans. They have Christmas traditions that involve gift giving and family traditional Christmas meals are very important. Villages often act out the events surrounding the birth of the Christ child. Nativity scenes are a major feature of Christmas tradition in South America.

Australia is known for starting a Christmas tradition around 1938 of Carols by Candlelight. People gather outdoors and sing carols either on Christmas Eve or an evening right before Christmas. That traditional Christmas custom has spread around the world. Australians celebrate Christmas on December 25th even though it's the middle of the summer season. Obviously a few Christmas traditions are different because of the hot weather. It isn't unusual to see Santa surfing in to the beach for an outdoor barbeque.

In Europe where much of the Christmas traditions originated, still celebrate today as they did many years ago. People usually stay in close family circles and it's considered sad if you have to spend traditional Christmas alone. Gifts are given but Little Jesus gives them or they know their parents are the ones that bought them. Many people go to Catholic Mass on Christmas Eve and it's not uncommon for this to be the only time in the year that Church is attended.

Peter brought the Great Christmas Tradition to Russia after he finished traveling in the western world late in the 18th century. After decades under communist rule, Christmas was revived around 1992. Russia celebrates Christmas Eve with a twelve-course meal to honor each of the apostles and gifts are given on New Years Day by either Grandfather Frost or his helper the Snow Maiden. Their Christmas traditions also include a "oyolka" or Christmas tree.

In Germany, Christmas traditions vary by region. Gifts are given on Christmas Eve after a small meal. Gifts are brought by someone who resembles Saint Nicholas or by "Christ Kind" who may represent the Baby Jesus.

Christmas tradiiton starts with Santa Lucia Day on December 13 for Sweden. Father Christmas brings gifts on Christmas Eve. Companies often celebrate by hosting a traditional Christmas lunch for their employees. One of the most interesting Christmas traditions of the Swedes is the watching of a Disney special on Christmas Eve at 3 PM.

In Norway, they also have a Christmas tradition of watching Disney. Norwegians celebrate on December 24th with large dinners and gifts given by "Juvenescent" to children who have been well behaved. Boxing Day follows a quiet Christmas day and children go door to door to gather treats, gifts and money much as our children do on Halloween. The official end of the traditional Christmas is January 6th.

Christmas traditions around the world are varied but all have a central theme. The birth of Christ, gift giving and family Christmas traditions are all celebrated in many ways. We may celebrate in a different way, someone other than Santa Claus may deliver the gifts, but Christmas tradition is still celebrated throughout the world as a special day for family.