Christmas is such a special time, there’s a magic glow in the air and people just seem to be at their cheeriest. But depending on which country you live in, the festive holiday season may look and feel slightly different. Here are 5 different Christmas traditions from around the world.
Germany
In German advent calendars are hugely popular and houses are decorated with christmas trees. Children will write to and receive gifts on Christmas Eve from either ‘das Christkind’, who is a young girl with Jesus like qualities, or ‘Der Weihnachtsmann’, Santa Clause.
Another tradition is the ‘Sternsinger’ or star singers who go from house to house dressed as Wise Men singing carols and collecting money for charity. After a house has been visited they write a special signature with chalk over the doorway which is bad luck to wash off.
Germany is famous for its Christmas markets selling delicious traditional food and hand blown glass ornaments. Carp or goose is often eaten for the main Christmas meal and stollen is very popular. In German, Merry Christmas is ‘Frohe Weihnachten’.
France
In France, Christmas decorations often include a nativity crib with bakers, policemen, butchers and priests, as well as the more traditional characters. Yule logs made of cherry wood and sprinkled in red wine are burned in French homes during Christmas.
The main Christmas meal of roast turkey or roast goose is eaten on Christmas Eve when people return from the midnight church service and is called Réveillon. For dessert a chocolate sponge cake log called ‘bûche de Noël’ is popular.
In France, Father Christmas is called Père Noël and Merry Christmas is ‘Joyeux Noël’.
Mexico
Christmas in Mexico is celebrated from December 12th to January 6th and up until Christmas Eve children go house to house performing ‘Posada’ processions, celebrating the part of the Christmas story where Mary and Joseph are looking for a place to stay.
Each night a different house hosts a Posada party where the children are welcomed inside and a popular party game is piñata. Life sized nativity scenes known as the 'nacimiento' are popular decorations in Mexico.
Big family meals are eaten on Christmas Eve after attending midnight mass, and mexicans also celebrate ‘los santos inocentes’ or Day of the Innocent Saints on the 28th. Presents are received on January 6th at Ephiphany or ‘el Dia de los Reyes’.
A special cake with a hidden figure of baby Jesus inside is eaten on this day called ‘Rosca de Reyes’ or Three Kings Cake and whoever gets the figure in their piece is the ‘Godparent’ of Jesus for the year. Merry Christmas in Spanish is ‘Feliz Navidad’.
Brazil
Most Brazilian Christmas traditions come from Portugal, dating back to when the country was under Portuguese rule. Nativity scenes called Presépio are traditionally set up in homes and churches. Most people go to ‘Missa do Galo’ or ‘Mass of the Rooster’ on Christmas Eve, after which there are usually lots of fireworks.
Taking part in secret santa gift giving is popular in Brazil and many children leave christmas stockings out hoping they are filled with a present from Santa Claus. Because it is the middle of summer, many families then celebrate Christmas Day on the beach.
The main meal is usually eaten at 10pm on Christmas Eve before mass in Brazil and favourite festive foods include pork, turkey and salads served with rice and raisins. Merry christmas in Portuguese is ‘Feliz Natal’.
Italy
Nativity crib scenes are an important way to celebrate Christmas in Italy and Naples is famous for it’s crib making - it has the largest in the world with over 600 figures. They are put out on the 8th December but baby Jesus is not put into the crib until the evening of the 24th.
On Christmas Eve it is common for Italians to not eat meat or diary. Before attending midnight mass they will just eat a light seafood meal which varies from region to region. Then when they return from mass they will have a piece of Italian Christmas cake called ‘Panettone’.
Christmas Day is celebrated but Epiphany on the 6th January is the main day for present giving. During the night children believe that an old lady called ‘Befana’ leaves presents for them in stockings they hang on the fireplace. Merry Christmas in Italian is ‘Buon Natale’.
Here’s wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, from all of us here at Lingoo.
We look forward to supporting your language learning in 2018 and beyond, through the world’s biggest language and homestay club, by connecting you with people all over the world who share the same interests as you.
