Christmases Around the Globe
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As the joyful time of the year approaches, the world prepares to celebrate in different ways. Across the globe, preparations to celebrate the Christmas holiday include spending time with family, sharing elaborate foods, and enjoying the season of giving. Despite the shared message of Christmas, the diversity of the people who celebrate this holiday makes it special and is why it is celebrated differently.
If you associate Christmas with cold weather, heavy snowfall and ice skating, you might be shocked to hear about what Christmas is like in Australia; December is the start of summer, and the weather is toasty. Christmas in Australia certainly looks different than it does in the U.S. Many Australians celebrate on the beach, soaking in the summer sun and drinking cold drinks. However there are some shared traditions with Australians at Christmas, for example in both places it's common to Christmas carol, have a Christmas Tree and enjoy spending time with family, even if it is at the beach.
South Africa, similar to Australia, celebrates Christmas in the summer weather. Schools are closed for summer break, and time is spent with family. Many have Christmas trees and spend time going caroling, especially on Christmas Eve. On Christmas morning, many attend early morning church services, celebrating the history behind Christmas. In South Africa the children leave out a stocking to be filled by Santa Claus, who is known to them as “Sinterklass”.
In both South Africa and Australia, there is a strong British presence seen in their celebration of Christmas due to the history of British occupation. This is evident in their participation in a post-Christmas celebration called boxing day. Originating from Britain, and Celebrated Dec. 26, this holiday celebrates giving back to those in need, and shopping, large-discount sales bring in huge crowds of shoppers, similar to Black Friday, in the United States.
Another country that celebrates Christmas in the summertime is Brazil. Many of Brazil's Christmas traditions were influenced by Portugal. In Brazil many go to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, followed by celebratory fireworks. Many also set up the traditional nativity scene, celebrating the history behind the holiday. Plays about Christmas are also popular, and are called “Os Pastores.”
Germany is a country where Christmas is celebrated during the cold winter months. A popular tradition of German Christmas is called Advent, which is a way to count down the days before Christmas. Germany is often looked at as a country of influence when it comes to Christmas celebrations, for example, Advent calendars have become a big part of Christmas globally.
While Christmas traditions might look different from country to country, the message is something all countries share.
