Feliz Navidad! Joyeux Noël! Frohe Weihnachten! Merry Christmas! School is out and you can finally relax with friends, family and some fun Christmas movies! Christmas is a time for many traditions that families participate in. As someone who likes to travel and see the world, it is often interesting to see what other countries do during Christmas. Here are some festive things other countries do during this time of year that you may have not heard of before:
1. Costa Rica:
In Costa Rica, they use some tropical flowers as their decorations. They make wreaths with red coffee berries, cypress branches, and ribbons. The decorations also include fruits, models, and animal figures. Santa in Costa Rica is known as Niño Dios (Child God) or Colacho (St. Nicholas). On Christmas Eve, families get ready and go to Midnight Mass or Miso de Gallo (Mass of the Rooster). After church, families will eat a meal including chicken or pork tamales which are wrapped in plantain leaves. They also drink lots of eggnog or rum punch. The streets are also lively as there are parades, dances, rodeos, and parties. On the 27th, there is also a carnival with dances and floats.
2. France:
While French Christmas traditions are similar to the ones you have probably heard before, a cool thing French children do is leave their shoes in front of the fireplace for Père Noël to leave fun treats and presents in. Tradition things you may see at the dinner table are a goose, smoked salmon, turkey stuffed with chestnuts, and vegetables with garlic and herbs. Traditional desserts include things with fruit, nuts, raisins, and a cake called Pompe à l’huile. There is a belief that everyone has to taste the desserts to bring them good luck in the coming year. The French also enjoy a good Christmas market.
3. Mexico:
Christmas in Mexico is a long celebration ranging from December 12th all the way to January 6th! From the 16th up until Christmas Eve, children perform in posadas (processions) and are given a candle and a board with clay religious figures. They all say prayers and different houses hold Posada parties. On the Posada on Christmas Eve, after the final posada, families attend a midnight church service and there are more fireworks. A popular decoration in Christmas time is the Nacimiento ( a clay figure set including Mary, Joseph, the three kings, and Baby Jesus who is added on Christmas Day). Families also eat a nice meal known as Noche Buena which includes Pozole (a thick soup with chicken or pork and chillies), roast turkey, a Ensalada Nochebuena (Christmas Salad). Dessert includes bunuelos a sugary, fried pastry. They also enjoy eggnog and sometimes add rum to it. They also have a day similar to April fools on December 28th known as “Los Santos Inocentes”. Finally, January 6th is known as “El Dia de Los Reyes” (the day of the kings). On this day, they eat a traditional cake called and whoever has the Baby Jesus in their cake, is the “godparent” of that year. Many traditions also include traditions from the indigenous people of Mexico.
4. Russia:
In Russia, Christmas Day is celebrated on January 7th following the old “Julian” calendar. They also believe in Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost) who brings fun trinkets to the children. On Christmas Eve, some individuals fast until they see the first star in the sky. They then eat a dish called Kutia ( a porridge with honey, poppy seeds, and fruit). They also eat Borch, vegetable pies, wheat dishes, and salads. There are a total of twelve dishes. In the end, they drink boiled water with honey and fruit. After, they go to a midnight service at church and do not wash dishes from their Christmas Eve meal until 3 or 4 am. On Christmas day, they eat roast beef and eat things like gingerbread and fruit pies for dessert.
These are just some of the fun traditions different people celebrate around the world. Although some are different, a common theme between all is that they all spend time with other people! With that said, be sure to spend Christmas with the people you love most! Happy Holidays!
Source for Feature Image: https://www.primarybeginnings.com/blog/christmas-traditions-around-the-world
Sources:
- https://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/russia.shtml
