Christmas Traditions Around The World

Sparkling Christmas trees, Santa, reindeer, Jingle Bells, a bounty of shopping, nativity plays and Midnight Mass.

To most Americans, Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without at least a few of these traditions and celebrations.

But as a religion with more than 2.2 billion adherents, something as simple as a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ has taken on enormously different shapes and styles across the globe. In many places, the most important Christmas celebrations don't even take place on December 25.

From the colorful Simbang Gabi Mass celebrations of Filipino Catholics and the dancing Koledari carolers of Bulgaria and Macedonia to Mexican Posadas and the elaborate Ganna processions of Ethiopia, here's a sampling of the spiritual and cultural dimensions of one of the biggest holidays in the world.

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Comments

[rabets]

11:50 PM on 01/13/2012

I study the bible and christmas is not a part of it. Neither is Easter
They are traditions of man.

[Mr Hoodoo]

12:10 PM on 12/25/2011

Newest tradition in America is for notables to have to show their long form birth certificates, particularly liberal-oriented ones.

And given Jesus was as liberal as one can get, what with all that turn the other cheek, love they neighbor, washing people's feet, disrupting the money changers, etc, why he needs to show all America his long form birth certificat before we can get on wth the day's festivities in his honor, if it really is him.

[ramp613]

09:58 AM on 12/30/2011

I'd accept the short form. Or ANY concurrent historical evidence of his existance.

But there isn't any.

[The 4th Degree]

11:29 PM on 12/24/2011

I found out this year that the supposed German tradition of a pickle in a Christmas tree is unheard of in Germany.

[puertoricoistheplace]

04:24 PM on 12/24/2011

Puerto Rico is the best place for Christmas! This is caroling Puerto Rican style:
http://www.puertoricoistheplace.com/2011/12/feliz-navidad-and-happy-new-year-from.html

[Whistlejackett]

12:31 PM on 12/24/2011

I miss Ukrainian Christmas, January 7th. Lots of caroling, beginning a week before, and the build up to a huge celebration. Gift giving is a small part, but the coming together of the church congregation is what is important. The whole event lasts for about 3 weeks and involves everyone.

[sabelmouse]

09:48 AM on 12/24/2011

i so miss german christmass. waiting for the christkind to come all afternoon of the 24th. then after a light dinner the presents and cookies, then to bed happy and the 3 more days of family, food and nice times.
and before that of course the whole advent time with the candles lit on the adventskranz and saint nicholas bringing sweets and cookies and the whole constant baking.

[hawaiianstile]

01:14 AM on 12/24/2011

the thing i hate about the christmas season is the water is crappy for spear fishing.

[maria52]

08:09 PM on 12/23/2011

I loved the photos and captions of the different Christmas traditions. Thank you.

[bensonwood]

01:36 PM on 12/23/2011

This is actually the season of LOVE.
Let us LOVE.....ONE ANOTHER.

[Mr Hoodoo]

11:34 AM on 12/25/2011

Ah, there ya go ordering people to "LOVE".

Seems counter productive.

[nq5511]

10:07 PM on 12/25/2011

Seem like you're the kind that NEEDS a tsunami like Japan, Katrina, Texas drought, a first earthquake or be a Bernie Madoff type victim. THEN, you will understand. Try not to wait until then and NEED it.

[bensonwood]

01:35 PM on 12/23/2011

This is the GOOD SEASON. Act like it.

[Mr Hoodoo]

11:31 AM on 12/25/2011

Is that an order, frau komissar?

[busterggi]

01:12 PM on 12/23/2011

Isn't it wonderful that across the globe Christians have stolen traditions from earlier religions & cultures so they could pretend that Christmas actually has something to do with Jesus.

[bensonwood]

01:34 PM on 12/23/2011

Sounds like some one missed their nap.

[Mr Hoodoo]

11:33 AM on 12/25/2011

Isn't that a sarcastic statement? And sarcasm is a negative kind of thing isn't it.

Kinda goes against this quote from someone: "This is the GOOD SEASON. Act like it."

[ramp613]

10:01 AM on 12/30/2011

Ah, why not borrow traditions. The character himself is borrowed, so why not some traditions.

[TomMartin]

04:40 AM on 12/23/2011

The Czech children were traditionally told that it is the baby Jesus who brings the presents on Christmas eve, flying miraculously through the glass of a window. During the communist rule, the communists tried to replace this tradition with Grandfather Frost bringing presents, but most Czechs did not accept this tradition as their own, considered it a Russian import. So Czech children got presents from Grandpa Frost in the communist schools, and then went home and got more presents from baby Jesus. But nowadays the custom of Santa Claus, imported from the US, is gaining in popularity, but it is still Christmas eve, after the traditional Christmas eve dinner of carp. Few Czechs are still Christian, but they love Christmas.

[busterggi]

01:13 PM on 12/23/2011

The Krist Kinder or it mutated in English to Kris Kringle.

[TomMartin]

02:36 PM on 12/23/2011

Yes, you got it approximately right. The Kriss Kringle is mutated from German Christkindl, which means the little Christ child. Not Kinder, which means children. But Kindl is dialectal for little child. And it is the same concept as among the Czechs, similarly among the Germans the baby Jesus brings presents on Christmas Eve. I don't know if the Santa tradition has started spreading among Germans like among Czechs.

[susankhbelen]

11:24 PM on 12/22/2011

Don't forget the luminaries here in the Southwest!
Roads, rooftops, walkways and homes are lined with the simple little brown sack filled with sand and one lighted candle.
Old Town Albuquerque does this every Christmas!
It is simply beautiful.
The point is to light the way for Mary and Joseph.....come to our home, you are welcome here!

[MIKEinNYC]

08:52 PM on 12/22/2011

All of this Christmas and Hanuka talk and nary a mention of Festivus.

[Jahnabi Barooah]

09:21 PM on 12/22/2011

Do share your Festivus tradition / practices / customs with us. Wishing you a merry one!

[harmlesstree]

08:23 AM on 12/23/2011

The Festivus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS7-jcsB_WQ&feature=related

[Christ plus NOTHING]

04:28 PM on 12/22/2011

Here's a terrific Christmas Tree message (feel free to pass it along) :

http://theoldadam.wordpress.com/2011/12/13/a-christmas-tree-message-3/



.

[abudotcom]

08:52 AM on 12/25/2011

Thank You, I did pass it along... Merry Christmas......

[Christ plus NOTHING]

10:02 PM on 12/28/2011

Thank you, abudotcom!

God bless you, my friend.