The holidays are right around the corner and most Americans are busily preparing to enjoy their favorite Christmas traditions. Our country is so rich in various cultures and religions that no two households celebrate the holiday in the exact same way.
Although there are many cultures/religions that do not celebrate Christmas, it seems the entire world finds something to celebrate around this time of year. Some interesting facts that most of our traditional holiday celebrating originates is from ancient pagan (pre-Christian) rituals and feasts to honor the rebirth of the Sun during the Winter Solstice. The holiday was called "Yule" and modern advocates still use some of the ancient customs with modern traditions during the Christmas season.
Also, the Roman pagans celebrated the solstice by starting with a holiday called 'Saturnalia' on December 17, to honor their God, Saturn. This festival lasted until December 24. Brumalia was then celebrated on December 25, in honor of the Sun, and completed the solstice festivities.
I'm just going to take a look at a few other holiday traditions from around the world:
Traditional celebrations throughout the British Isles are very similar to the American style of Christmas. Although, it is interesting to note that gift giving was done in Britain on New Year's Day up until the 19th century. At that point, gift giving was switched to Christmas Day.
The day after Christmas is known as the Feast of St. Stephen or Boxing Day in Britain, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It is almost more popular than Christmas. It is a holiday which started in medieval times when the lord and lady of an estate would give their workers their annual distribution of clothing, tools and a small money donation. Today, employers still traditionally give their employees gifts of turkeys and money. Distributing funds to the poor is also an important theme of the day.
In the past, gift giving and card sending was observed on New Year's Day in France. Today, gifts are given to children by Pere Noel (the gift giver) on St. Nicholas Eve (December 6) and baby Jesus on Christmas (December 25). However, adults wait to exchange gifts on New Year's Day. Few homes in France will decorate a tree, infact, the focus in the household is the nativity scene or 'creche'. Epiphany or Twelfth Night is another French celebration. The twelfth day after Christmas is marked as when the wise men or 'magi' arrived to give Jesus his gifts.
In Italy, St. Francis of Assisi is renowned with the popular 'Nativity Scene'. He asked Giovanni Vellita of the village of Greccio to make a manger scene as a backdrop to his ceremonies for Mass. This dramatic scene of the Nativity produced so much interest and devotion in Italy that the creation of the figurines or pastori has become a traditional folk art.
A strict fast is observed for 24 hours before Christmas Eve. The fast ends with a celebration feast that includes a Milanese cake called 'panettone'. Gift giving is done on January 6, to honor the Feast of the Epiphany.
Christmas in Egypt is celebrated through the Coptic Church. In the Orthodox Church and in the Coptic Church Christmas is celebrated on the 7th January. Advent is observed for forty days and during this period people are expected to fast eating no meat, poultry or dairy products. Some people only do this during the last week of Advent.
On the Eve of Christmas everyone goes to church wearing a completely new outfit. The Christmas service ends at midnight with the ringing of church bells, then people go home to eat a special Christmas meal known as 'fata', which consists of bread, rice, garlic and boiled meat.
On Christmas morning people in Egypt visit friends and neighbors. They take with them 'kaik' which is a type of shortbread, which they take with them to give to the people they visit and eaten with a drink known as 'shortbat', I think I'd enjoy that =)
I've never gotten the chance to experience any other traditions besides my own yet, but it seems like something that would be a lot of fun doing.
Cheers!
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