The Cultures of Christmas

by: Sara Nigro

The holiday of Christmas is celebrated world wide and the traditions vary and change depending on the country you live in or the culture you embrace. American traditions often vary because the country is created out of immigrants that bring along their own culture when they arrive in the U.S, but as an American culture, many citizens hang bright and colorful lights, decorate pine trees, and even display statues of Santa Claus, snowmen, and reindeer. Carols are sung and wreaths are hung along with cookies being baked and presents being bought. One of the most famous landmarks of the holiday season in America is Rockefeller Center in New York City where family and friends go to look at the enormous tree and skate on the famous ice rink. The way that the U.S celebrates Christmas is very well-known among most, but other cultures and countries celebrate in different ways with their own special traditions.

For example in many parts of France, Christmas celebrations start on December sixth and the children get small gifts and candy beginning at this time. On Christmas Eve, the children leave their shoes by the chimney and hope that Father Christmas (also known as Père Noël to the French) will fill them with treats. Similarly in Hungary, the children follow the same tradition of leaving their shoes out and receiving treats on the sixth of December except they receive it from the man they call St. Nicholas, not Père Noël . Besides that one day, most of the holiday festivities occur on Christmas Eve in the country of Hungary. It is a tradition to decorate the tree the night before St. Nicholas is supposed to arrive and some parents won't let their children decorate the tree and will leave it bare until their kids are sleeping, so when they wake up it is an extra surprise for them. Most Hungarians also have a specific Christmas meal on Christmas Eve made up of fish, cabbage, and a type of bread/cake known as Beigli. Continuing with the theme of the traditions on December twenty fourth, many citizens of Hungary will also attend Midnight Mass to celebrate the birth of Jesus who is known as Jézus in their country.

Just because Christmas is thought of as being admired in the winter, doesn't mean that this festive holiday doesn't occur in other seasons in different parts of the world. For instance, Australia and U.S.A are on opposite sides of the planet meaning that Christmas is celebrated in Winter in America but in summer in Australia. The two countries being alike, people traditionally hang wreaths on their door and go caroling around their neighborhood, but that's where the similarities end. Australians usually decorate their property with Christmas bushes with small green leaves and cream-colored flowers that will turn red in a few weeks time. Also, they have a Father Christmas like the other countries but theirs is named Santa Claus and he arrives wearing warm-weather clothing and with six kangaroos guiding his way. Of course their are thousands of other ways to celebrate the holiday we call Christmas and they each have their own meaning and tradition to certain countries or cultures that make them special and comforting to those who celebrate them.