In the world, each culture has a different way of celebrating the Christmas holidays, with customs that are different from each other, but with a common denominator: family and home values. We tell you how Christmas is in some countries:
Germany, Argentina, Denmark and Scotland
- In Germany the home is also decorated with small fruit dolls. The children leave their letters on the windows and they are addressed to Christ kind, a messenger angel of the Child Jesus, who distributes gifts. On New Year’s Eve, San Silvestre is celebrated and some food is left on the plate, to ensure that they will have a full pantry next year.
- It’s very hot in Argentina, it’s the middle of summer there! and the meals are lighter, with salads and cider, although they also have nougat, following the European tradition. At midnight on Christmas Eve it is customary to throw rockets to celebrate. On the other hand, New Year’s Eve does not have so much tradition.
- In Denmark break the crockery not frowned upon on New Year’s Day. This is how they show their loved ones how much they appreciate them, and they do it by throwing the old dishes that they have accumulated during the year in front of their houses. The number of good friends you have will be proportional to the pile of broken dishes you find at your door.
- In Scotland on New Year’s Eve they set fire to a barrel and roll it through the streets engulfed in flames, thus calling in the new year and allowing it to enter.
Guatemala, England, Italy, Japan, France
- In Guatemala, the festivities begin on December 7 with the Burning of the Devil, a picturesque tradition that leads Guatemalans to search their homes for those materials that they no longer use and build a bonfire with them to represent that they are getting the evil one out of their home. The youngest also go in search of dry trees, called chiriviscos, to feed the fire.
- In England, since the Middle Ages, they have performed the so-called Mummings, representations in which masked people participate. These works are traditional in schools and churches in small towns. Another custom is to hang mistletoe high on a door or ceiling. According to the tradition, couples standing under the mistletoe must kiss each other.
- In Italy on New Year’s Eve (Notte di Capodanno) lentils are eaten, especially in the Rome area, because tradition says that whoever eats them will have money all year round. The Romans and Neapolitans, when 00:00 arrives, throw away the old junk, as a symbol of putting an end to the past and ushering in a new year. For children, on the night of January 5, the toys are brought by a good witch named Befana, who flies over the roofs on a broomstick.
- In Japan, most decorate their houses with evergreen branches, despite the fact that only 1% of the population believes in Jesus Christ, but gifts are also made between family and friends.
- In France, Christmas begins on December 6 with the arrival of Saint Nicholas, who brings gifts to children, although the Christmas atmosphere can be felt from November 25, the day of Sainte Catherine. It is very common to make the Advent calendar where each day you have to open one of its windows.
- The Jewish tradition does not celebrate Christmas, but during the month of December, coinciding with the Christmas dates, they celebrate Hanukkah, a Jewish holiday in which children receive gifts from the family. This festivity only takes place in the family and private sphere or in the case of Jewish religious schools.
- In Russia the tradition is the Babushka, which according to legend is a Christmas figure that distributes gifts among good children, since he declined to go see Jesus with the rest of the wise men due to the cold.