Christmas Customs from Around the World

Canadian Christmas / Noël Traditions
While Canada and the United States share many customs due to their geographical and historical closeness, I wouldn't want to cut short the rich cultural diversity here in Canada. Two main traditions exist: English-Canadian and French-Canadian. Each has retained large parts of its founding cultures, while adjusting and evolving to fit the Canadian experience.

Anglophones (the English-speaking population) blend of English and American tradition

Santa Claus is the one to bring the presents Christmas Eve. The children may sometimes open a special present that night, saving Christmas morning for those that Santa brought.

The house is usually decorated with a Christmas tree (usually Balsam fir), wreaths, holly (grown in the West), and sometimes imported mistletoe, garnished with plastic berries.

In Newfoundland mummers go round the neighborhood.

Francophones (French-speaking) Québec and Acadia

Le Père Noël brings presents for Christmas morning; while on Christmas Eve there are presents from parents.
Québec and Acadian sugar pie and Reveillon

Decorations: Mostly the same as in English Canada. However, creches and manger scenes are a little more popular because most Francophones are Catholic.

Miscellaneous: In Québec the end of Christmas is celebrated on January 6, called La fête du Roi (The Feast of the King). For this a cake is baked with a bean inside of it. The person who gets the bean is the king (or queen) for a day.

Allophones (other-speaking)
Ukrainian, Italian, Scottish, Irish, German, etc peoples adapt the traditions of their home countries to their new life in Canada.

Brazilian Natal Traditions
Pape Noel comes in through the window since fireplaces are rare here. Children set out their shoes for him before going to bed. The next morning, they fix breakfast, get their presents from their shoes and look for more gifts hidden around the house.

On Christmas Eve the cena (supper) is set out before the family goes to Midnight Mass so that the Holy Family can partake if they wish while everyone is out. A popular menu would include turkey, fish and champagne.

Outdoor altars are created, Christmas trees are decorated with candles

To celebrate the season midnight masses are held in church courtyards. Dances, picnics, and fireworks are popular, especially enjoyed by the poor.

Brazilian legend tells that animals gain the power of speech on Christmas night, performing a play of sorts. The rooster says "Christo nasceu" (Christ is born), the bull asks "Onde?" (Where?) and a chorus of sheep answers: "Em Belem de Juda" (In Bethlehem of Judea).

Chilean Navidad Traditions
Chile's gift-bringer is called Viejo Pascuero, or Old Man Christmas. He strongly resembles Santa Claus and likewise comes drawn by reindeer. However, as chimneys are less than roomy in this warm climate, he contents himself with climbing in a window.

The Christmas Eve meal often includes Azuela de ave, a chicken soup filled with potatoes, onions and corn on the cob; and Pan de Pasqua, a Christmas bread filled with candied fruit.

As in all Latin America, the manger scene is the center of festivities; and following the midnight Mass of the Rooster, the Christmas Eve meal

Costa Rican Navidad Traditions
Santa: Children used to leave their shoes out for the Christ Child to fill, but Santa Claus is relieving Him of this task now.

The supper after Midnight Mass will consist of tamales and other local dishes.

Bright, tropical flowers highlight decorations for Christmas. Special trips are made to gather the wild orchids that bloom in the jungle areas. The manger scene is called a Portal and is decorated with these brilliant flowers and colorful fresh fruit. Wreaths of cypress leaves and red coffee berries are very popular.

Cuban Navidad Traditions
The ban on celebrating Christmas was only lifted here in 1998. See The spirit of Christmas across the globe from CNN for details.

The traditional New Year's Eve/festive meal in Cuba was brought out for Christmas: roast pork, rice, black beans, cassava (a potato-like root) and green salad.

Ecuadorean Navidad Traditions
The owner of the ranch distributes gifts to all his employees and their families.

The huge meal will consist of roast lamb, baked potatoes and brown sugar bread. There is always too much to eat, so that the processions that wend their way into the mountains at the end of the day are as heavily laden with leftovers as they were with offerings in the morning.

Christmas Day is a day of colorful procession as the Indians who live and work in the highlands and mountains dress in their finest and ride their brightly arrayed llamas down to the ranches where their employers live. They bring gifts of fruit and produce, which they lay before the image of the Christ Child in the Pesebre, or manger scene, which is set up in the ranch house. Children also bring their gifts and make pretty speeches to the Holy Infant, asking blessings for their family and their animals. Then there is a fiesta with much singing and dancing outdoors.

Guatemalan Navidad Traditions
Gifts are left under the tree on Christmas morning by the Christ Child for the children. Parents and adults do not exchange gifts until New Year's Day.

Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve follows the Posada and is in turn followed by a full supper.

The Christmas tree has joined the nacimiento as a popular ornament because of the large German population in Guatemala.

For nine days before Christmas, Posada processions pass through the streets. The beat of drums and the crackle of fireworks provide lively accompaniment as the figures of Mary and Joseph are carried to a friend's house, where a carol is sung asking for lodging for the Holy Family. After ritual questions and answers, the doors are opened and Mary and Joseph are taken to the nacimiento, or manger scene, where they will remain until the next night, when they once again go out seeking shelter. Everyone who accompanies the figures on their quest makes a great party with punch and hot tamales and dancing once the goal is accomplished. On Christmas Eve, the figure of the Christ Child is added to the nacimiento at the last of the nine hopuses to receive the Holy Family. This is the signal for the biggest party of all, and the home selected had better be a large one, since everyone who was involved over the last nine days will show up on this night.

Jamaican Christmas Traditions
Jamaican Christmas festivities reached their height in the late 18th and early 19th centuries with feasts and processions featuring strolling singers and performers. In this century, the celebration came under more regulation so that performers had to be licensed. This has added to a general decline, although all the customs can still be found in various pasts of the island. The women were called set-girls because they worked together in a set of a specific number. They danced to the accompaniment of gourd rattles, fifes, triangles, and tambourines. The men were called actor boys or koo-koo boys. They wore masks and elaborate headdress and would sometimes perform plays or skits. The name koo-koo boys derived from a song in one of the plays which begged for food. "Koo-koo" was the sound used to imitate the rumbling of an empty stomach. The most colorful figure in these bright festivities was the John Canoe dancer. He wore a mask, a wig, and a military jacket. On his head was a pasteboard houseboat with puppets of sailors, soldiers, or plantation workers. Often this was of great size, and the most skilled dancer had to be chosen to wear it. The name John Canoe is obscure. It may be a corruption of the French gens inconnu, which means "unknown people," or it may come from cornu, "horned," since early dancers wore animal masks. The origins of all these festivities are lost in antiquity, but they seem to derive equally from African and European customs.

Mexican La Navidad Traditions
Papa Noel

Festive foods include bunuelos (fritters) that are made only on Christmas day to be sold in the small village of Celaya in the town square.

The main Christmas celebration is a drama called a Las Posadas (Inns) is a a re-enactment of the nine-day journey of Jose and Maria from Nazareth to Bethlehem, and their search for a place to stay once there. The processions begin nine days before Christmas, using real houses as the setting; Piñata a large deocrated clay jar or papier mache container filled with goodies is broken open by blindfolded children with a stick. (See p137)

Nicaraguan Navidad Traditions
Like many Latin American countries, Nicaragua retains many of the customs of old Spain.

On January 6, the feast of the Epiphany, it is the three wise men who brings gifts for the children.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas people stroll the streets where there are many things to buy: candles, Nativity pictures, toys and foods. Children carry fragrant bouquets to the alter of the Virgin and sing carols. On Christmas Eve, church bells beckon the people to Midnight Mass. Often the Holiday season concludes with a brilliant display of fireworks.

Peruvian Navidad Traditions
On Christmas Eve, the meal after Midnight Mass features tamales.

Many Peruvian manger scenes will feature the quaintly beautiful figures carved of wood by the Quechua Indians.

Christmas Day festivities in Lima are highlighted by a bullfight and a procession with the statue of the Virgin Mary.

Puerto Rican Navidad Traditions
Gifts arrive Christmas morning, but also on the Epiphany. On January 5 in the evening, children leave water, grass and grain under their beds for the camels of the Wise Men and the next day find presents in their place. Santa is also popular with the children.

The manger scenes are peopled with santos, hand-carved figures that represent some oldest works of art. The tree is also popular.

Early in the Christmas season, carolers begin going from house to house and from farm to farm. They wear homemade costumes of what the Magi might have worn and sing bright Spanish carols called aquinaldos and villancicos. They are rewarded with food and drink, and many from each house will join them, so that eventually there are great crowds going singing from place to place. Nine days before Christmas, the Mass of the Carols begins. This takes place each morning at 5:30 a.m. It is filled with music and usually the caroling continues on the way to work or home.

Venezuelan Navidad Traditions
After Mass everyone enjoys tostados and coffee.

Venezuelans attend a daily early morning church service between December 16th and 24th called Misa de Aguinaldo (Early Morning Mass.) In Caracas, the capital city, it is customary to roller-skate to this service and many neighborhoods close the streets to cars until 8 a.m. Before bedtime children tie one end of a piece of string to their big toe and hang the other out the window. The next morning, rollerskaters give a tug to any string they see hanging.

Belgian Noël/Kerstmisse Traditions
Customs: Children tie a hen and roosters legs together, then chase them. The boy who catches the rooster becomes "King", the girl who caught the hen is "Queen" (Feast of St. Thomas Dec.21)

Santa: St. Nicholas visits twice; on December 4 he comes to check into the behavior of each child, to find out if they have been naughty or nice. Then on December 6 he returns with just rewards for all, either presents or switches, which he leaves in the shoes or small baskets that have been placed inside near the doorway, where he will easily find them. Just to get on his good side there are snacks of hay, water and carrots left for his horse or donkey.

Activities: Christmasday religious celebrations and Nativity plays sponsored by the churches. They are often performed in 16th century costumes. In small villages, there are often three virtuous men chosen to portray the three Wise Men and go throughout the town, caroling at each doors and receiving small gifts of food.

Czech Vánoce Traditions
Some Christmas words in Czech: Christmas (vánoce)

Danish Jul Traditions
Julemanden arrives by reindeer-drawn sleigh, complete with a sack on his back, and elf-assistants called Juul Nisse or Juenisse . They live in attics and barns, and children leave out saucers of milk or rice pudding for them.

Festive foods includes roast goose stuffed with prunes and apples, and served with red cabbage; apple cake topped with freshly whipped cream and Risengrod, a special rice pudding in which a whole almond is hidden. The person whose finds that almond gets a special gift; The Almond Gift .

Horses and cattle are given extra food on Christmas Eve, and grain is placed outside for the birds.

English Christmas Traditions
For English children, Father Christmas is the one who brings the gifts. He wears long robes with sprigs of holly in his long white hair. Letters to him aren't mailed; they are thrown into the fireplace. If they go up the chimney, the wish will be granted Stockings are hung by the chimney or at the foot of the child's bed to receive small presents, which are opened Christmas morning.

Many familiar North American traditions came from England. Some that never really crossed the Atlantic include wassailing, yule logs, masses in old cathedrals, and Boxing Day.

Festive Foods include roast turkey or beef and desserts are mincemeat pies and plum puddings

Decorations: The Christmas tree central, however, it has never completely replaced the combination of greenery and mistletoe called the kissing bough. Bringing in the Yule log and the boar's head are not commonplace today.

The traditional Boxing Day - not the one of returning, or even exchanging gifts - began centuries ago. December 26 was set aside for the village priest to distribute the alms deposited in the poor box. More recently it has been celebrated by giving gifts to mailmen, newsboys and other public servants.

Superstitions: In Devonshire, a girl raps at the hen house door on Christmas Eve. If a rooster crows, she will marry within the year. In Hertfordshire, a plum cake is stuck on a cow's horn on Christmas Eve. Cider is then thrown into her face. If the cakes falls forward, it will be a good harvest.

Finnish Joulua Traditions
In Finland, it is Old Man Christmas or Joukupukki the Christmas Goat, who delivers the gifts. He comes from Lapland dressed in a long fur coat and hood with a white beard, riding in a reindeer sleigh and assisted by elves. The oldest Finnish tradition did not necessarily involve a giver of the presents at all: an unseen person threw the gifts in from the door and quickly disappeared.

Festive foods include boiled codfish served with allspice, boiled potatoes, rye bread and suckling pig.

Decorations: fir tree lit with candles, decorated with fruits, candies and tinsel; saunas decorated with paper stars.

Miscellaneous: December 26, St. Stephen's Day, people take rides through the country, racing their best horses.

Some Christmas words in Finnish: Christmas (joulu)

French Noël Traditions
Santa: Le Père Noël or Papa Noël; gives toys to children as does the Christ Child.; Papa Noël is sometimes accompanied by Le Père Fouettard (Father Spanker). Gifts are given on Le Jour de l'an (New Year's).

Festive foods include the Bûche de Noël, a log-shaped cake covered with chocolate to look like bark. after midnight mass, families return home to eat a late supper called Reveillon, usually consisting of oysters, wine and sausage.

Decorations: Nearly every French home at Christmastime displays a Nativity scene or creche, which serves as the focus for the Christmas celebration. The creche is often peopled with little clay figures called santons or "little saints." An extensive tradition has evolved around these little figures which are made by craftsmen in the south of France throughout the year. In addition to the usual Holy Family, shepherds, and Magi, the craftsmen also produce figures in the form of local dignitaries and characters. The Christmas tree has never been particularly popular in France, and though the use of the Yule log has faded,

German das Weihnachten Traditions
Season begins Dec.6, St. Nicholas' Day
Christkind (the Christ Child) is the present-bringer here. He is often accompanied by one of its many devilish companions, Knecht Rupprecht, Pelznickle, Ru-Klas, or one of the other monstrous playmates created by this nation, which is known for its fairy tales.

Baking provides the festive foods which include dozens of different cookies shaped or stamped with Christmas designs. Gingerbread, for eating and making houses and men, is especially familiar. Preparations are made weeks ahead of time.

Decorations: Tree: the center of attention, custom began here, every home must have one, decorated with lit candles to represent the stars; usually the mother who decorates the tree and no one is allowed in until it is finished. Other decorations include Advent wreaths, candles and calendars, as well as the creche.

Miscellaneous: toymaking by woodcarvers and other craftsmen

Superstitions: a blindfolded goose will touch first the girl in the circle who will wed first.

Greek Christuyena Traditions
Santa: Karkantzari; mysterious half-human, half-monster beings who wander around on the 12 days of Christmas to make mischief.

Festive foods include flat loaves are baked decorated with a cross on top, called christopsomo (Christ('s) Loaves/Bread).

Decorations:

Superstitions: A child born on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve in Greece he is feared to be a Kallikantzaroi. You burn your old shoes during the Christmas season to prevent misfortunes in the coming year.

Miscellaneous: Christmas Eve village children travel from house to house offering good wishes and singing carols called Kalanda.

Dutch Kerstmisse Traditions
Sinter Klaas (St. Nick) brings the gifts for Dutch children. They, in turn, stuff wooden shoes with hay and carrots, and place them on window sills along with a dish of water for his horse. His Saint's Day, December 6,

Festive foods include

Legends:

Miscellaneous: skating on frozen canals is a popular sport

Some Christmas words in Dutch: Christmas-tree (kerstboom) Christmas (Kerstfeest, Kerstmis), Christmas feast (Kerstfeest), Christmas tree (kerstboom), Father Christmas (Kerstman)

Irish ? Traditions
time for religious celebration rather than revelry

Legends: it is believed that the gates of heaven open at midnight on Christmas Eve. Those who die at that time go straight to heaven without having to wait in purgatory.

Santa:

Food: After the evening meal, the table is also set with bread and milk and the door left unlocked as a symbol of hospitality that the family is offering to Mary and Joseph and the little one to come. The only festive note that is struck is in the pudding that caps the meal. Three puddings are made early in December, one each for Christmas, New Year's, and Twelfth Night.

Decorations: The manger scene is in most houses and there are a few Christmas trees. The best-known Christmas custom is that of putting a candle in the window, often decorated with some greenery, on Christmas Eve. The idea is to help light the way of the Holy Family or any other poor traveller out on such a night.

Activities: The day after Christmas, St. Stephen's Day, witnesses the rowdy old custom of hunting the wren, when boys go from door to door with a wren on a stick (today the wren is not a real one), singing the traditional song and begging for treats.

Italian El Natal Traditions
La Befana, brings gifts for the good children, and punishment for the bad, on the feast of the Epiphany (January 6). According to legend, the three wise men stopped during their journey and asked an old woman for food and shelter. She refused them and they continued on their way. Within a few hours the woman had a change of heart but the Magi were long gone. La Befana, which means Epiphany, still wonders the earth searching for the Christ Child, leaving presents for the children she does encounter. She is depicted in various ways: as a fairy queen, a crone, or a witch.

A meat-less dinner is served on Christmas Eve, the pranzo delta vigilia, featuring capitone, roasted, baked or fried female eel. This meal is followed by a 24-hour fast ending in an elaborate Christmas feast, which might consist of tortellini, a capon and a variety of cakes.

Decorations: Christmas log, the Appo, is burned; each family builds a mini manger scene called a Precepio, the custom of which originated in Italy.

Some Christmas words in Italian: Christmas (Natale)

Miscellaneous: In Rome, cannons are fired from Castel St. Angelo of Christmas Eve to announce the beginning of the holiday season.

Australian Christmas Traditions
Food: After a hearty afternoon feast, supper may be a picnic in the countryside or at the beach.

Decorations: Christmas bell and the Christmas bush.

The world's largest carol-singing festival, Carols by Candlelight takes place in Melbourne each year. It began in 1907, when the city organized large-scale community singing, a practice which soon spread to other cities, eventually broadcast around the world. The name of the festival comes from a line of the first Australian carol, The Melbourne Carol, written in 1913 by Norman Banks. More than a quarter of a million people sing by candlelight, and join hands at midnight for "Auld Lang Syne." Special candles are sold, the profits going to charity. The tradition of mass caroling came to South Australia with Cornish miners in in the 1800's, who on Christmas Eve sang Wesleyan carols by the light of their miner's lamps.

Afrikaander Kersfees Traditions
Some Christmas words in Afrikaans: Christmas-tree (kersboom), Christmas (Kersfees, Kersmis), Christmas feast (Kersfees), Father Christmas (Kersvader)

Syrian ? Traditions
Santa: there is no Santa, instead a camel comes to deliver gifts.

Phillipines - a band leads a parade after Christmas mass, followed by children wearing wreaths made of tropical flowers

Ethiopia - In Addis Ababa (the capital city) church bells ring in Christmas at four in the morning. Later that day, kids dress up and go to the Royal Palace to receive presents from the Emperor.

The North Pole - For these hard-working inhabitants, Christmas day is vacation to rest up for next year.