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This article will talk about how Christmas is celebrated based on different cultures and areas around the world.
The holiday season Across the Globe
The holiday season Across the Globe
By: Payton Ashley
By: Payton Ashley
Christmas is celebrated differently all across the globe. Depending on what part of the world you live in, there are many different traditions based on ethnicity and culture. In the United States, we tend to celebrate by baking cookies and going to see Santa Claus. However, for example, in Greenland, Christmas trees have to be imported because no trees grow that far north. Depending on who you are or what you believe in, Christmas can look different for everyone.
New Zealanders Special Christmas TreePhoto Credit
Christmas is widely celebrated by people who believe in Christianity. According to Why Christmas, Christmas in Japan has only emerged in the last couple of decades because of the lack of Christianity in this area of the world. In Japan, Christmas is mostly known to spread happiness, and is not as focused on religious reasonings. Christmas Eve is more widely celebrated than Christmas Day in Japan. Christmas Eve is also thought of as more of a romantic day, similar to Valentine's Day. The Japanese people often eat a Japanese delicacy called “Christmas Cake, " which is a sponge cake decorated with strawberries and whipped cream.
Brazilians Annual Light up Christmas TreePhoto Credit
Christmas in Brazil mostly comes from Portuguese celebrations. Around the holidays, plays are very popular in Brazil. Brazilians refer to Santa Claus as Papai Noel and Bom Velhino, translated as “Good Old Man”. According to WhyChristmas, Brazilians don’t do stockings. Instead, children leave socks by their windowsills and wait for Papai Noel to exchange the socks with a present. Secret Santa is also a popular tradition in Brazil. They secretly give friends gifts throughout December and reveal who they are on Christmas Day. Famous Christmas foods in this area include turkey, ham, salads, and dried and fresh fruits. There, Christmas meals are usually served at around 10 PM.
New Zealanders have their own special Christmas trees during the holiday season. It is called a pohutukawa tree. According to the travel magazine The Real World, they have bright red flowers that bloom through the tree. Many people tend to spend their Christmas alongside the beach, eating a simple picnic. The food can vary, but most people tend to eat barbeque. New Zealanders also have their very own Christmas carols. Many of them have switched up the lyrics to original songs and made them more fitting to their culture and country. The Real World writers state that they also imagine Santa to be wearing sandals and shorts because of the warm weather around the holidays.
Christmas is celebrated in many different ways. It can look different for every family. In fact, some people don’t even celebrate Christmas, and have different cultural beliefs and habits. In the end, the holidays can be such a different scene for everyone. So make sure to spread a little extra love during the holiday season.
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