It’s the most wonderful time of the year.
Does this sound familiar?
Christmas, an annual holiday that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, is celebrated in unique ways in different countries, even those with few Christians. Christmas celebrations in different parts of the planet vary markedly in form, reflecting differing traditions. They often have a local flair shaped by cultural norms.
Whether it is a religious festival, like Hanukkah or Christmas, or a more secular occasion, some rituals or customs make the holiday season special.
Traditions Round-the-World: Common and Strange
Christmas traditions include, but are not limited to, the installing and lighting of Christmas trees; sending and exchanging of Christmas card greetings; hanging of Christmas stockings and candy canes; creating Nativity scenes depicting the birth of Jesus Christ; singing and/or playing of Christmas carols about figures as the Baby Jesus, St. Nicholas, Santa Claus, or Grandfather Frost; having special religious observances such as a midnight Mass on Christmas Eve; giving and receiving of presents; and other unusual traditions that you might not have heard of, like the Austrian tradition of the Krampus.
Originally thought to have come from the old pre-Christian myths involving beasts from the forest and creatures such as satyrs, the Krampus became linked with St. Nicholas in the Middle Ages. The Krampus, a beast-like demon creature roaming city streets, is said to capture the naughtiest children and whisk them away in his sack. So in the first week of December, young men dress up as the Krampus (especially on the eve of St. Nicholas Day), frightening children with clattering chains and bells.
“If you are good, Niklaus will bring you something nice. But if you are bad, the Krampus might come and get you.”
A celebration wouldn’t be complete without food, would it? In Christmas, food takes the center stage. For instance, in Ukraine, ambitious feasters enjoy a 12-course meal—one for every apostle. In Japan, it’s common for families to visit KFC for dinner. The Philippines has one of the longest Christmas seasons in the world that starts as early as September. After midnight mass on Christmas Eve, Filipinos have a grand Noche Buena feast featuring lechón, a spit-roasted suckling pig. There’s also queso de bola (a ball of cheese), spring rolls, fruit salad, and pasta on the table. Meanwhile, the Hangikjöt is a favourite Icelandic Christmas dinner celebrations. The thin-sliced meat is boiled and served with a cream sauce. It is made from lamb, mutton, or horse meat that’s traditionally smoked over dried sheep’s dung.
…and the list goes on and on! Yummy!
Christmas: Merriest or Saddest Time of the Year?
In general, Christmas is a time of festivity. For a couple of weeks every year, the world takes on a magic glow, people seem merrier, and even winter somehow feels cosy. However, for some people, Christmas is a time of sorrow. They don’t have the extra money to buy presents for their loved ones. They are saddened at Christmas time when they think of the people they love who will not be able to come home for various reasons.
Yet, Christmas can be a season of great joy. As taught by religion, it is a time of God showing his great love for humanity. Also, Christmas can be a time of healing and renewed strength.
Can we truly be happy at Christmas, especially this quite no-ordinary-year with a pandemic claiming lives, livelihood, and has drastically changed the world? The answer depends on how you view Christmas.
For many people, the holidays mean exchanging presents, spending time with family, and feasting on good food. Amid the bustle of finding appropriate gifts and making travel plans, it can be easy to forget that Christmas is about love and togetherness.
“Christmas is the spirit of giving without a thought of getting. It is happiness because we see [the] joy in people. It is forgetting self and finding time for others. It is discarding the meaningless and stressing the true values.” – Thomas S. Monson
No matter what may be happening, may this year be your best Christmas yet. Happy holidays!
