Christmas around the world

Christmas occupies a unique cultural role as a celebration that unites millions of people worldwide regardless of ethnicity or culture, and often across multiple religions. In the United States, the Christmas season tends to be secularized because of pressures from commercialism, as well as disagreements over the role of religion in society.

While the overall purpose – celebrating the birth of Jesus – remains the same, other countries have vastly different approaches to the holiday. Here’s a look at some fascinating celebration rituals and traditions worldwide.

Mexico

Celebrations of Christmas, or La Navidad, in Mexico include a number of traditions, starting with the ritual of las posadas, which involve re-enactments of Joseph and Mary’s search for lodging in Bethlehem. The custom begins nine days before Christmas, since that coincides with the amount of time it took travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Families in a neighborhood take turns playing two roles from night to night – pilgrims who search for lodging, and innkeepers who send the pilgrims away. One family in the neighborhood is chosen to host the posada each night.

The ritual often differs slightly, but it’s basically the same: Each night, the pilgrims visit innkeepers and ask for shelter by reciting a simple chant, but are turned away. Eventually, each family of pilgrims reaches the home that hosts the posada, and they are joyfully invited in. Once inside, prayers and singing take place around a Nativity scene, followed by a party which typically involves food, drink and a piñata. The piñata is an animal-shaped papier-mâché container filled with nuts, fruit and candy. Children take turns wearing a blindfold and swinging a stick to break it and spill the treats for everyone to enjoy.

Scotland

For centuries, the celebration of Christmas was actually banned in Scotland. It wasn’t until 1958 that it became a recognized religious holiday, rather than just another working day. Today, Christmas traditions are relatively low-key, but similar to those in the United States and United Kingdom. But before Christmas celebrations became common, gift-giving and merriment took place on New Year’s Eve, during an event called Hogmanay.

Of course, like many New Year’s celebrations, Hogmanay involves large, raucous parties. One interesting tradition involves “First Footing.” After midnight, neighbors will traditional visit each other’s homes bearing gifts and good wishes for the New Year. It is considered to be particularly lucky if the first visitor through the door after midnight is a stranger – and even more so if the stranger is a tall, dark-haired male.

Greece

Christmas celebrations in Greece take a relatively somber religious tone from the dominance of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Also, since St. Nicholas is the patron saint of Greece, it comes as no surprise that Greek rituals at Christmas focus on his legacy.

According to religious doctrine, anyone wishing to take Communion on Christmas Day will fast during Advent, the period marked by the four Sundays before Christmas. In this case, fasting calls for abstaining from eating meat, eggs, dairy products or oils. The end of the fast is marked by a huge feast on Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve belongs largely to children, who travel from house to house singing kalanda, which are a form of carol, and often playing simple musical instruments such as drums or metal triangles. In return, they receive coins, or treats like candy and dried fruit. Christmas trees are relatively rare; instead, the dominant tradition has traditionally been a small “Christmas ship,” or karavaki, which is decorated and carried by the children during Christmas Eve.

Bethlehem

Given Bethlehem’s religious significance as the birthplace of Jesus, the Christmas season takes on special meaning. However, Bethlehem is significant to more than one religion, and that creates a diverse atmosphere of multiple types of celebrations.

For example, Christmas is observed on a variety of dates, depending on religion. Protestants and Roman Catholics observe the traditional day of Dec. 25, while Greek, Syrian and other Orthodox churches choose Jan. 6, or Epiphany, which marks the end of the 12 Days of Christmas.

Each religion also has its own series of services and processions through the town, though some common themes emerge. Christmas lights are prevalent throughout the city, a cross is painted on the door of every Christian home, and Nativity scenes are present in most households. An area called “Manger Square,” outside the Basilica of the Nativity, represents the birthplace of Jesus and is the focal point for a number of activities.

One of the highlights occurs on Christmas Eve (in this case, Dec. 24), with the main Christmas procession winding through the streets. A procession features a parade of horses, clergy and government officials, as well as a man riding on a black horse, carrying a cross. The procession makes its way to the Basilica, and chosen members of the parade enter the Basilica, carrying an effigy of the Christ child to the grotto commemorating his birth, which is marked by a 14-point silver star.

Other unusual celebrations

• During the Christmas Day feast in Portugal, places are traditionally set at the table for the souls of ancestors, who hopefully will bestow their blessings on the house.
• In Yugoslavia, the gift-giving begins on a morning two weeks before Christmas, when children rush into the mother’s bedroom and tie her feet to a chair, happily chanting “What will you pay to get away?” The mother agrees to give the children presents in exchange for her freedom. One week later, Dad gets the same treatment.
• In Finland, Christmas Day festivities are typically marked by a trip to a steam bath before the holiday feast.