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In England, we’re all fully aware of how our nation likes to traditionally celebrate
Christmas. And, although each family may have their own variations on what
they like to do for the big day, us Brits all tend to follow the same routine; we all
decorate a Christmas tree, we all give presents, we all pull crackers and wear
those silly paper hats, and we all tend to eat some form of roast dinner.
But, have we ever taken time to think about how other nations celebrate the
festive period? Surely all other countries across the world celebrate Christmas in
exactly the same way as us, right? Well, we’d be wrong. Because, just like us,
individual nations have their own individuals traditions on how they like to
celebrate the birth of Jesus.
So, to give you a little insight into how, here’s a little summary of how other
countries and communities’ from around the world will be celebrating Christmas
this year:
1. United States of America
In England, its tradition to leave Santa a little glass of sherry and his reindeer a
few carrots whilst they stop off at our homes to deliver our presents. But, in
America, their tradition is to ditch the carrots and sherry, and leave out a tray of
cookies and a glass of milk for Santa and his little helpers, instead. And, if Santa
stops off at houses where the children have been naughty rather than nice, he’ll
leave them nothing but coal in their Christmas stockings!
2. Caracas, Venezuela
So, you know how we have the tradition of midnight mass Churches around the
days leading up to Christmas? Well, in Venezuela, they also have a midnight
mass; a roller-skating mass. Yes, that’s right, you read that right; I did say roller-
skating…
During the 16th December and 24th December the streets of Caracas in
Venezuela, are shut in order to make way for roller-skating mass in which
everyone travels to their Church’s midnight mass in a pair of skates. It’s become
a very well-known tradition in the area and one which most of the community
love to participate in each year.
3. Japan
We all know that turkey is the traditional choice of meat at Christmas time in
Britain. But, in Japan, their traditional choice of meat is fried chicken. Although
only a small percentage of the Japanese population celebrate Christmas, this
tradition of eating fried chicken during the festive period has been entirely
fabricated and influenced by the adverts of well-known fried chicken companies.
4. Bruderhof Communities
The Bruderhof Communities are a religious group who maintain a particularly
strong faith in Jesus. And, it’s due to this that Christmas is a huge celebration
within the communities that follow this faith. If you thought we celebrated
Christmas big, then it’s nothing compared to the Bruderhof.
Similarly as we do, the Bruderhof celebrate Christmas with the same traditions
– but on a much larger scale. Rather than celebrating Christmas in individual
families, whole communities unite to celebrate Christmas all together; nativity
plays are put on, carols are sung in large four part harmony choirs and every
member of the community contributes to put on an unbelievable, joyous
celebration.
5. Italy
In Italy, the children don’t wait for the big man in the red and white suit to
come shooting down the chimney on December 25th. Instead, they wait for a
witch named La Befana on January 5th, who is believed to deliver presents down
the chimneys of homes on her broomstick. And, instead of leaving sherry and
carrots, children leave her wine and crackers!
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