There’s only a few days left now. Have you all finished your Christmas shopping yet, (for the record I haven’t even started mine yet). For todays Advent treat I’ve decided to go a bit multi-cultural and have a look at different Christmas traditions from around the globe.
In Belgium it’s important to differentiate between Sinterklass, or St Nicholas Day, the religious festival held on the sixth of December and Christmas held on December 25th. In Belgium Father Christmas is called De Kerstam or sometimes Le Pere Noel and follows the traditional western view of Santa bringing presents to children down the chimney.
Christmas breakfast is very big in Belgium with a special sweet bread called 'cougnou' or 'cougnolle', (the shape is supposed to be like baby Jesus), being served. Some families will then have another big meal on Christmas day.
Finland
According to Finnish legend Father Christmas (Santa Claus) lives in the north part of Finland called Korvatunturi, north of the Arctic Circle. People from all over the world send letters to Santa Claus in Finland. There is a even big tourist theme park called 'Christmas Land' in the north of Finland, near to where the Finnish say that Father Christmas lives.
Finland
According to Finnish legend Father Christmas (Santa Claus) lives in the north part of Finland called Korvatunturi, north of the Arctic Circle. People from all over the world send letters to Santa Claus in Finland. There is a even big tourist theme park called 'Christmas Land' in the north of Finland, near to where the Finnish say that Father Christmas lives.
At mid-day, rather than the Queens speech, the Finnish get to enjoy the traditional 'Christmas peace declaration' which is broadcast on radio and TV from the Finnish city of Turku by its Mayor.
In France, Christmas is always called 'Noël. Christmas trees tend to be decorated in the old way with red ribbons and real white wax candles, (healthy and safety anyone?). Fir trees in the garden are often decorated too, with lights on all night.
Father Christmas translated into French is Père Noël.
Germany
Germans love to decorate their houses at Christmas. Many houses will have little wooden frames holding electric candles in their windows, and coloured pictures of paper or plastic which look beautiful from the outside at night. Often too, they will have an 'Adventskranz' - a wreath of leaves with four candles. (Advent - meaning 'coming' - is the 4 week period before Christmas). On each Sunday of Advent, another candle is lit, (hmmmm, I think I’ll stick with my chocolate advent calendar. Most homes will also have little wooden 'cribs' - a small model of the stable where Jesus was born, with Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, and animals.
Father Christmas in German is pronounced Der Weihnachtsmann.
Australia
Australians tend to follow most 'western' traditions for Christmas except that yes, Christmas dinner is sometimes a barbecue on the beach!
In the days of the Soviet Union, Christmas was not celebrated very much. New Year was the important time - when 'Father Frost' brought presents to children. With the fall of Communism, Christmas has started to be openly celebrated again - either on December 25th; or more often on January 7th. This unusual date is because the Russian Orthodox church uses the old 'Julian' calendar for religious celebration days.
Maybe some of my foreign readers could add some of their Christmas traditions below for us all........
Merry Christmas
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