UNIQUE CHIRSTMAS CELEBRATION TRADITIONS AROUND THE WORLD
(The Quiver) Oh! Jingle bells, Jingle bells, Jingle all the way …….yes the chirstmas is arriving with Santa, celebrations,fun and happiness . This Christmas will appear little fade due to covid restrictions everywhere.
But its speciality and unique traditional ways of celebrations that will not let it go flavourless . The smell of freshly baked Christmas cakes and pies, the fun of decorating the Christmas tree together with family and the eager eyes to watch the old Santa Claus in his typical red dress holding a big bag full of gifts has its different charm and enjoyment. Different Countries have their unique traditional ways of celebrating Christmas ,prevailing around hundred years .
In this Christmas lets go through the unique special traditions of different countries that make their merry Chirstmas celebration different from others.
SWEDEN
Sweden celebrates Christmas. With The Gavle Goat which is essentially a massive Yule Goat serving a traditional symbol of the Yuletide season in areas of Scandinavia and Northern Europe, and was first installed in the town in 1966.
The Gavle Goat is a giant straw statue of a goat constructed every Christmas in the town of Gavle. As known from local beliefs. People have faith that the Yule goat is an invisible spirit that would appear before Christmas to make sure that the holiday preparations were done correctly. The goat eventually took on the role of a gift giver and is sometimes seen in place of, or alongside, Santa.
GERMANY
One of the most popular customs of German Christmas includes the Advent calendar. It is an important countdown to Christmas for children. Every day, for four weeks before Christmas, a window in the advent calendar is opened to reveal a poem, parts of a story, candy or a small gift. These calendars flood shops across Germany during this season, while many parents prefer to make their own.
JAPAN
Not from the first Japan used to celebrate Christmas traditionally. But, they have a custom that will not only fill your mouth with water but will leave you with a wish of visiting Japan during Christmas.
The Japanese celebrate their Christmas Day with a hearty meal from KFC (Kentucky’s Fried Chicken). Yes, its a clever marketing strategy observed in the 1970s, KFC is now an integral part of the Japanese Christmas culture for their lip-smacking menu and warm festive cheer.
MEXICO
Mexico celebrates, a nine-day tradition by reenacting Joseph and Mary’s nine-day journey to Bethlehem. How they searched for an inn or posada which became an integral part of the tradition. During the observations, Mexican children carry small statues of Mary and Joseph with them, and travel around the neighbourhood while singing songs and requesting their neighbours to give them shelter. Once they get a posada, the children offer a prayer of thanks to them.
A pinata party is also held every evening of these nine days. The pinata is a large clay or papier-mache figure that looks like an animal, or some other object covered with colourful paper strips. Children are given sticks to beat this toy and take out the candy stuffed in it. These celebrations make Mexico Christmas unique.
