Christmas Around The World
christmas in different countries
Christmas in Africa
Christmas day begins with groups of carolers walking through the village, along the roadway, by the houses of the missionaries, singing the lovely carols known the world around. Often people may wake up by a group of carolers beginning to converge on the house of worship. They return home to make final preparation as to the clothes they must wear and also as to his offering for the Christmas service.
The most important part of their Christmas worship service is the love offering, this is the gift in honor of Jesus. Then at about 8 or 9 o'clock everyone makes their way to the celebration of the birthday of Jesus.
Christmas in Egypt
On the Eve of Christmas everyone goes to church wearing a new outfit. The Christmas service ends at midnight with the ringing of church bells, then people go home to eat a special Christmas meal called 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 who they visit and eaten with a drink known as shortbat. Christmas Day is a public holiday for Christians.
Christmas in France
Nearly every French home at Christmas time displays a Nativity scene or crèche, which serves as the focus for the Christmas celebration. The crèche is often peopled with little clay figures called santons or "little saints." In addition to the usual Holy Family, shepherds, and Magi, the craftsmen also produce figures in the form of local dignitaries and characters. The craftsmanship involved in creating the gaily colored santons is quite astounding and the molds have been passed by generation to generation since the seventeenth century. Throughout December the figures are sold at annual Christmas fairs in Marseille and Aix.
Christmas in Hungary
- In Hungary the main celebrations of Christmas take place on Christmas Eve. The evening is called Szent-este or the Holy Evening. Before attending Midnight Mass, families gather around the Christmas tree to sing carols and open the presents left by Baby Jesus and the angels.
A few weeks before Christmas, on December 6th the children receive a visit from Mikulas or St Nicholas.
Christmas in Mexico
Exicans share many traditions with the Spanish. Their main Christmas celebration is called La Posada, which is a religious procession that reenacts the search for shelter by Joseph and Mary before the birth of Jesus. During the procession, the celebrants go from house to house carrying the pictures of Mary and Joseph looking for shelter.
Santa Claus is not predominant, but the bright red suit is represented in the traditional flower of the season. This flower is the poinsettia, which has a brilliant red star-shaped bloom.
Christmas in Spain
- Christmas in Spain it is a very festive time at Christmas. On Christmas Eve, as the stars come out, tiny oil lamps are lit in every house, and after Midnight Mass and Christmas Dinner, streets fill with dancers and onlookers. There is a special Christmas dance called the Jota and the words and music have been handed down for hundreds of years. They dance to the sound of guitars and castanets.