Christmas Customs Across the Globe
Learn How People All Over the World Celebrate the Festive Holiday
Dec 23, 2008
What we know of the first Christmas comes exclusively from the Bible, but over the centuries, many Christmas traditions have grown up which have become an essential part of the celebrations. Some Christmas customs seem to have little to do with the birth of Jesus, but often their roots lie deep in early Christian tradition with figures such as St Nicholas, the Archbishop of Myra.
Christmas in Spain
In Spain, Christmas presents are given at the feast of the Epiphany or Twelfth Night (January 6). ‘Los Reyos Magos’ – the three kings – will often parade through towns giving out presents to children. The kings are said to have visited Jesus on this night, and so children put straw or barley in their shoes for the travelers’ weary camels. The shoes are left in doorways or on balconies, and on Christmas morning the barley has gone, and replaced by sweets and presents.
Christmas in Germany
In Germany, the legend of St Nicholas takes a different turn for Christmas. He is not the bringer of Christmas presents, but merely the messenger who takes children’s requests up to heaven. It is the ‘Christkind’ or Christ-child who delivers the presents, dressed in white robes and a golden crown. Letters for the ‘Christkind’ are left on window sills, and often decorated with sugar to make them sparkle.
Christmas in Australia
Christmas in Australia happens in the middle of summer. Nevertheless, most families still have traditional roast turkey followed by plum pudding for their Christmas dinner. Many Australians head for the coast at Christmas, so Christmas dinner may well be eaten on the beach. At Surfer’s Paradise, Father Christmas usually arrives on water skis, wearing red bathing trunks!
Christmas in Holland
The Dutch Christmas season begins on December 6 with the arrival of St Nicholas by steamer at the port of Amsterdam. St Nicholas is dressed in a bishop’s robe and mitre and is always accompanied by Black Peter, who represents the devil. It is Black Peter’s job to punish naughty children, and to the dirty work of delivering Christmas presents down the chimney. Christmas presents are actually exchanged on St Nicholas Eve (December 5), and the Dutch like to include an element surprise. Sometimes a little is wrapped in a huge box, or the parcel is hidden in an unexpected place.
Christmas in Mexico
At Christmas time in Mexico, homes are decorated in time for the beginning of ‘Posadas’, the season when people remember Mary and Joseph’s search for somewhere to stay. Later, children look forward to the Mexican Christmas tradition of the ‘Piñata’ game. The ‘Piñata’ is an earthenware jar, decorated with paper and streamers to look like a bright bird or animal, and filled with sweets, toys and nuts. Children are blindfolded, and they try to break the jar with a stick. A scramble follows as everyone tries to get as much as possible!
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