Christmas is a great time for celebration and joy. It probably the most beloved family holiday of
them all and is renowned all around the world. Regardless of the continent, whether it is in Africa,
Asia, America or Europe, people from all over like to get together, exchange gifts and basically to
have a jolly good time. It is exactly when people are together, when they feel the so called
Christmas Spirit, a special vibe that one gets whenever there is someone to share the joy with.
Almost all nations in the world enjoy Christmas, however, different cultures have different
traditions and different ways through which they mark the birth of Jesus Christ. Following is a short
description of the Christmas customs in a couple of countries.
1.South America
The Bolivian Natives mark Christmas as a harvest festival. They thank each other and God for the
year’s work’s completion. They talk about what has been done and what more can be done during
the following year. Christmas resembles a feast in honor of the goddess Mother Earth whom they
ask for a fruitful harvest, to keep plagues away and basically for a prosperous year.
Little people in Brazil do know about Santa Claus, and the ones that do refer to him as Papa Noel.
Families over there do not have Christmas trees, but they have a Presepio or crèche which
represents Jesus’ birth. During the holiday people exchange presents and after that, the Presepio is
put away until next Christmas.
Children in Ecuador write letters, which they address to the Christ-child and put a shoe or two on
the windowsill which are to be filled with toys by him. Common Christmas presents for children
are noise-making toys.
Because of the warm weather, the majority of celebrations are in the streets, with brass bands,
firecrackers and lots of dancing.
2.Bulgaria
In this Eastern European country, Christmas Eve is equally important to Christmas Day. The
holiday dinner is meatless and consists of an even number of meatless dishes. Some of them
include peppers stuffed with rice, bean soup, rice rolled in cabbage leaves, the signature banitza
and sorts of dried fruit and nuts. There is also special Christmas Bread, in which the housewife
puts a lucky coin. It is believed that the one who gets the coin will be lucky and healthy throughout
the upcoming year. Early in the morning on the 25th boys and young men, called koledari go from
house to house, dressed in traditional apparel and greet families with Merry Christmas by singing
carols.
3.Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, Christmas is known as Ganna and is celebrated on the 7th of January. The celebrations
take place in churches where boys and men are separated from girls and women. People, who
enter the church, are given candles which they lit and keep all throughout the mass which lasts
around three hours. Traditional Christmas meals include injera, a pancake-like bread, as well as
doro wat, which is a type of chicken stew. Exchanging presents is not as important as it is in the
western world. Children are usually given small and simple gifts, such as various items of clothing.
Ethiopians greet each other for Christmas by saying ‘Melkin Yelidet Beaal ‘.
4.China
Even though Christianity is not too popular of a religion in the over-populated country of China, it
is still celebrated by a big number of people. Christmas trees are decorated with bright ornaments,
most of them made of paper. Children hang stockings and hope that Christmas Old Man will leave
their presents there. The original name of Santa Claus in China is Dun Che Lao Ren which actually
is translated Christmas Old Man. The Christmas tree is referred to as ‘Tree of Light’. Non-Christian
Chinese people call Christmas Spring Festival, during which they pay respect to their respected
ancestors. In Chinese (Cantonese dialect) the ‘Merry Christmas’ wish is ‘Gun Tso Sun Tan’Gung
Haw Sun’.
5.Philippines
Philippines is basically the only Asian country in which the official religion is Christianity and it
was chosen by its people. The celebrations that mark the birth of Jesus Christ start nine days before
the actual day of Christmas with a mass that is known as Misa de Gallo. Each Christmas Eve, a
pageant is held where a young couple is chosen to re-enact the nativity scene. On Christmas day,
a mass is held every hour, so that everybody can attend. The holiday celebrations in Philippines
consist of old tribal traditions, mixed with various other influences. Strolling minstrels and
serenading cumbancheros sing Maligayang Pasko.
In a nutshell, people over the Globe enjoy celebrating Christmas. Even though they mark it in a
different way, due to different customs and traditions, they all gather with their families in order to
be humble and to rejoice the birth of Christ.
