Christmas around the World
In Germany the preperations for Christmas begin on December 1st, people bake spiced cakes, gingerbread houses and begin to make decorations. On the evening of December 5th children leave a pair of boots outside their front door and hen they wake the next morning if they have been good there will be a small gift of oranges or figs but if they have been bad they will recieve coal. Children in Germany write their letters to an angel called Christkind as they believe it is she who delivers their gifts on Christmas eve..
She is thought to be a child messenger who has a gold crown and golden hair. Also in Germany a wreath with four candles known as the candles of advent are traditionally lit on each Sunday leading up to Christmas.
In Hungary Christmas is mainly celebrated on Christmas eve, families usually gather to exchange gifts on the evening and sing carols together they may also attend midnight mass. It is folklore that on 6th December children are visited by St Nicholas to see if they have been good or bad, it is said he is also accompnied by a devil in a black costume with a stick to teach the naughty children to be nice.
In Romania one of the main activities at Christmas is carol singing, they walk around the neighbours and streets singing carols with great depths and meaning. On December 20th it is tradition that a pig is cut and eaten as part of a great family feast.
In Spain Christmas is a very special time of year as their patron saint is the Virgin Mary. On 8th December households hold a feast named the feast of the immaculate conception and on the 24th it is family time to eat. feast and dance. There is a traditional Christmas dance named the jota and a special type of candy eaten called turron. On December 28th it is tradition for boys to light bonfires and play act at being the town mayor and handing out chores.
In New Zealand traditional images are of snow scenes and Santa in his great cloak but for the locals there is no other hotter time of the year as it occurs during their summer. The people of New Zealand are more than likely to go to the beach on Christmas day that is of course after they have had their Christmas dinner which like ours involves carving a turkey and eating vegetables followed by a grand dessert.
In Turkey Father Christmas comes on new years eve and leaves presents for the children, a traditional meal of turkey and vegetables followed by dessert is eaten at midday and christmas trees are put up and decorated ready for new years eve’s celebrations. It is celebrated as it is here but just on a different day.
In Greenland a traditional gift to recieve is mattak which is a strip of whale skin with blubber inside that is eaten and is said to taste a little like coconut.
In Ireland it is tradition to leave milk and bread outside an unlocked door for Mary and Joseph to eat, candles are placed in the window to guide them to the housesthat can offer shelter. St Stephens day is celebrated on boxing day and is usually a family day and day that a parade named the Wren Boys Procession takes place.
In France there is a lot of focus on the natvity scene and most homes will have a scene on display in the family room but the christmas tree is not very widely used as it is in other countries.The children in France usually leave their shoes by the fire place on Christmas eve so that Santa will fill them up when he comes down the chimney with goodies.Adults usually exchange gifts on new years eve.
In Italy children recieve their christmas presents on 6th January delivered by a good witch called Befana. It is folklore that she was told by the three wise men of the birth of Jesus but lost her way and could not find him and now leaves gifts at every house in case the baby is there.
