Christmas will be celebrated in a few days and it is the most wonderful time of the year although this time will be different due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Houses are now filled with Christmas lights, decorations, and beautiful Christmas trees. There’s a question that arises about this amazing holiday, How is Christmas celebrated around the world? There will be more details below that will capture the reader’s attention.
France:
In many of the French regions, Christmas celebrations begin with St. Nicholas Day on December 6th. On this day kids get sweets and little gifts. Also, many cities in France are decorated weeks before Christmas and children love to open the 24 little windows of their Advent Calendar. Many towns are also illuminated with Christmas lights.
On Christmas Eve, children put their polished shoes in front of the chimneys and hope that Pere Noel (Father Christmas) fill their shoes with sweets. December 25 or better said Christmas Day is a public holiday and families get together for a big feast. Presents are exchanged on this day.
Italy:
In this country, a nativity scene known as a presepe is put up in churches, town squares, and often in homes. For many people, this is the most important part of the Christmas decorations. In Italy, Babbo Natale, (Father Christmas) hands out presents to children on Christmas Day, although many families exchange gifts on January 6 th which is the Day of Epiphany. Buon Natale means Merry Christmas in Italian.
Germany:
Weeks before Christmas, festive Christmas markets are set up on main squares in a lot of cities. Houses tend to be decorated with fairy lights and festive ornaments in December, however, in this country the Christmas trees is usually put up and decorated at homes in the morning of December 24th.
Christmas celebrations begin on December 24. Shops close early on Christmas Eve, so all decorations have to be bought before lunchtime. December 26 is a public holiday and a lot of families celebrate this day together by going to church or enjoy a little walk on a nearby park.
Portugal:
The people in Portugal, celebrate Christmas on December 24. Houses are decorated for Christmas and may families put up a nativity scene where Baby Jesus is added to the crib after the family attends Midnight mass. Children put out their shoes for Baby Jesus, not for Santa and the gifts are exchanged after the family has attended a Christmas service on Christmas Eve.
Singapore:
About two in ten people are Christians. Christmas however is so commercialized in Singapore and Christmas décor is so abundant in the city. The main shopping district is filled with stunning decorations.
Brazil:
There you can find a ‘Presepio’ a crib or nativity scene in front of a church. Papai Noel or Father Christmas travels from Greenland to Brazil to give presents to Brazilian kids. In Brasil, to wish somebody a Merry Christmas people say Bom Natal or Boas Festes.
South Africa:
People celebrate Christmas Day on December 25th . The families gather at a “braai” which is the
South African version of a barbecue. In December it’s usually summer season and many people
attend Christmas mass on Christmas Day.
In conclusion, the beauty about this holiday is how to enjoy with the families and fill the houses
with love and joy. This writer wishes each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and
may your houses get filled with peace and joy.
*freestocks.org, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
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