Last night I was watching a travel show that covered various towns throughout Germany and how they celebrated Christmas. It was so beautiful to see how quaint and old fashioned some places still looked and to see all the Christmas market stands, people shopping and drink gluhwein, children decorating the town tree and singing carols.
Growing up in England I probably experienced very similar traditions to here in the U.S. I used to play in the town band (cornet) so on a Saturday in December we would gather on the Town Hall steps and play Christmas carols while people shopped the market stalls.
One of my favourite traditions took place on Christmas eve, I lived in a large village and a lot of the village people (ha ha the YMCA song just popped into my head) would gather around the Elm tree and sing carols and then head into the pub afterwards.
I think the biggest difference in England is that we call the big guy in the red suit 'Father Christmas' not Santa. We also celebrate Boxing Day (December 26th), there are various explanations for the naming of this day.....some say it's to do with when people come calling you give them a small box of goodies to take home with them.....maybe Christmas Day leftovers such as nuts and sweets.
I've been curious as to how other countries celebrate so I've done a bit of research....here's SOME of what I found.
China - Santa is called Dun Che Lao Ren, children hang stockings and paper lanterns decorate houses.
Denmark - Santa is called Julemanden and his elves Juul Nisse. The believe the elves live in your attic and apparently they like rice pudding and saucers of milk because that's what the children leave out for them.....forget Santa LOL
France - Children leave shoes by the fireplace for Pere Noel a.k.a. Santa to place small gifts in. The children are allowed to open their gifts on Christmas Day but parents have to wait until the New Year. They also partake in a large meal at midnight on December 24th this is called La Reveillon.
Italy - It's said that Italians aren't supposed to open gifts until January 6th (do you hear that all you American Italians???) That was supposedly when the wise men finally reached Jesus after their long trek, they got distracted by a witch, hence the delay. I know a lot of American Italians celebrate Christmas eve with a large dinner of fish too, The Feast of the Seven Fishes.
Mexico - People dress up as Mary and Joseph and go door to door looking for a bed for 'room at the inn' they are told no, the door is closed and then re-opened and apparently everyone comes out of role play and has a big party. This happens for 9 days and is called Las Pasdas....finally on the 9th night there is room for Mary in the stable, all are invited in for food and the children smash a pinata and then they all go to church!
North Pole - work, work, work
Russia - Tradition states that a lady named Babouschka failed to give the three wise men a place to stay on their travels, later regretting that decision she began traveling around looking for Jesus and giving children small gifts along the way. After the Revaluation in 1917 the Soviet Government banned Christmas! Instead they now celebrate New Years Day with a special decorated tree and Grandfather Frost comes to visit in a blue suit and brings the children gifts. Sounds to me like they managed to get around that whole banning of Christmas thing with a change of day and suit colour!
Spain - They leave shoes on the windowsill filled with straw, carrots and barley for the horses of the wise men!
Sweden - Know Santa as Tomte, who apparently is a gnome figure and comes out from under the house or barn carrying gifts for the children (that's not creepy). Apparently once out from under the house he rides in a sleigh drawn by a goat! Santa Lucia Day is December 13th, at the crack of dawn the eldest daughter of the house would wake up and put on a white robe and place a ring of candles in her hair, then proceed to wake up the rest of the family and serve then coffee, cakes and buns (it didn't mention if the candles in her hair were lit....but I'm presuming not).
So that was just a taste of what I found out this morning, interesting isn't it?
And to think I had 'Blogger's Block' this morning when I sat down to write!
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