On December 25th, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, the Finnish people celebrate Christmas (Finnish: Joulu Suomessa), a national holiday honoring the birth of Christ. In Finland, December is referred to as “joulukuu” (meaning “Christmas month”), and the Christmas season begins with Advent and continues throughout the month. During this time of year, there are humanitarian activities and marketplaces that help people in need, in addition to various Christmas preparations.
At the Mäntyniemi mansion, the President of Finland traditionally delivers the Christmas greeting. The Swedish-speaking community chooses Saint Lucia to sing Christmas songs on this occasion. Students from the forestry program at the University of Helsinki deliver the Christmas tree, Korpo fishermen offer the recently caught pike, and Vehmaa farmers provide the Christmas ham.
This custom, which began under President Urho Kekkonen, has evolved over the years to include items such as eco-baskets, including items from environmental groups and animal rights campaigners and bouquets of flowers from the Association of Flower Merchants.
“Black Christmas” in Finland simply means that there is no snow on the streets on Christmas Day, which is a typical occurrence in modern times because of climate change. There has been a significant uptick in the use of hotlines as a means to alleviate the loneliness and stress that some countrymen feel around the holidays.
After Finland’s population converted to Christianity, the country started celebrating Christmas. While contemporary customs have found their way into the celebration of this winter event, ancient rituals have played an important role in its history. However, the changes (the Star of Bethlehem‘s arrival and the singing of Christmas songs) did not prevent certain traditions, including dressing up and caroling, from continuing. Keeping its original name (pukki, meaning “goat”), the Finnish Santa Claus evolved into Joulupukki, a goat who distributed presents (similar to the Yule Goat).
It was usual practice in Finland to work diligently and finish early on Christmas Eve so that one might get adequate sleep before the Christmas service. Traditionally, Christmas Eve was thought to be a night when specters and devils prowled the Earth. To appease the spirits, some would leave food and a warm sauna outside their homes, while others would put crosses on doors to protect themselves from harm. It was usual to employ soot, grains, or dream interpretation that night to predict a person’s future marriage. The Finnish tradition of who gets up first gets to whack the other dreamers continues unabated to this day.
An ancient Finnish custom states that on Christmas Eve, a bundle of wheat or oat stalks is strung from a tall pole close to the home (or even on the roof) with the intention of providing food for birds, which are particularly vulnerable at this time of year. On Christmas Eve, the entire family enjoys a sauna session.
Advent (from the Latin adventus, meaning “arrival” or “coming”) is the modern term for the four-week festive season leading up to Christmas in Finland. In 524 AD, a church council in Lerida, Spain, forbade weddings and related festivities from the start of Advent until the celebration of Epiphany. This is the first known reference to Advent.
The Lutheran community later began to gather for Christmas concerts, church rituals, and the celebration of the season by decorating the streets with lights, garlands, and the symbols of faith, hope, and love—the cross, anchor, and heart. 65% of Finland is Lutheran today. In 1840, the city of Pietarsaari in Finland created the first Christmas street in the country. Since 1949, the capital city of Helsinki has adorned Aleksanterinkatu Street with festive decorations.
A countdown to Christmas is going on all month long. Special two-layer Christmas calendars, called joulukalenteri in Finnish, are used by children and they look like thin cardboard boxes. Each numbered removable window on the calendar reveals a tiny image or chocolate bar. The German lady Frau Lang invented these calendars in the late 19th century as a way to pique her son’s interest in the Christmas season. Around this time, children’s calendars like these became wildly popular all around the globe.
On each of the four Sundays of Advent, Finnish adults burn an extra-purple candle using truncated four-candle holders. It is customary to light two candles on a Sunday and then put them out again the following week, continuing in this pattern until all of the candles have burned out. The four window candles in Finnish houses are all lit up by Christmas. Modern urbanites rely heavily on electric seven-candle lights (Finnish: adventtikynttelikkö), hanging stars, and window lamps rather than traditional, all-natural candles.
“Little Christmas”: Pikkujoulu
The first pre-Christmas parties in Finland are organized by women, maintaining the tradition of gathering together to create Christmas decorations sold at charity markets. The current Finnish tradition of “Little Christmas” (Pikkujoulu) business parties takes place between the end of November and the beginning of December.
During the days leading up to Christmas, Finns spend an average of 570 euros on presents and send over 50 million greeting cards to friends and family. Many businesses consider this time to be the “golden time” for retail sales.
Thirty percent of Finns who participated in a survey said they bought toys and games as Christmas presents. After electronics and home appliances (12%), clothing comes next at 18%. The fourth place goes to candies and other sweets with 10% of the market, while the fifth place goes to cosmetics with 9%.
The performance “The Most Beautiful Christmas Songs,” started by the “Missionary Society of Finland,” has been a popular cultural event in the days leading up to Christmas since 1973. Hundreds of thousands of Finns attend these concerts during the third Advent.
The Days of Christmas in Finland
December 13: Saint Lucia Day is celebrated by the Swedish-speaking Finns on December 13th. This festival combines Christian and pagan elements. All of the proceeds from the celebrations go straight into the healthcare fund.
December 23: The centerpiece of the holiday season, a jolly Christmas tree decked up with international flags, geometric straw sculptures called “himmeli” (heavens) and other trinkets, begins to emerge in Finnish houses by the 23rd of December. Trees are adorned with candles on Christmas Eve.
December 24: Finnish roadways see a dramatic surge in traffic on Christmas Eve, December 24th, as families make every effort to get together. Because it is a public holiday, shops close at noon, so customers have time to get everything they need before the vacation. The Finnish tradition “Christmas Peace” is proclaimed precisely at noon in Turku’s historic central plaza. In the midst of this joyous ritual, which everyone attends in person or watches on TV, everyone breaks bread and starts to celebrate Christmas. Also, Tornio has been declaring Christmas Peace since 1946. After the 5 o’clock church services, Finns visit cemeteries to lay fir wreaths and candles on the graves of loved ones who have passed away.
December 25: The actual day of Christmas, December 25th, is devoted to prayer and contemplation in Finland. The city’s public transit system and all public buildings close their doors, and a large number of people go to church on this particular day.
December 26: In keeping with the customs of the medieval Tapani Day (Finnish: Tapaninpäivä) or Saint Stephen’s Day, the joyous celebrations, dances, and feasts begin on December 26th. In the past, the Finns would dress up as goats and sing carols as they embodied legendary animals and “Christmas cranes” on this day. At present, this day is officially observed as a public holiday, and all significant public festivities are connected to it. For many Finnish families, today is the day to go sledding, ice skating, or skiing.
Milk rice porridge (riisipuuroa) with a hidden almond
Lutefisk (lipeäkala)
Dark Christmas beer
Gingerbread cookies (piparkakut)
Gingerbread house (piparkakkutalo)
Puff pastries filled with plum jam (joulutorttuja)
Hot mulled wine (glögi) with spices, raisins, and almonds
Waffles, pastries, and cookies shaped like animals and objects
As a cold appetizer, Finns love beetroot salad (rosolli), which is similar to Russian salad, cold-smoked salmon, freshly salted salmon (graavilohi) or whitefish (graavisiika), and other similar dishes. Baked ham, or kinkku, as it is known in Finland, is the traditional Christmas meal, and the nation eats over 13–16 million pounds of it every year. Along with ham, roast turkey (Finnish: kalkkuna) has been available to Finns since the 1940s, but its popularity is still limited. Reheating potato, carrot, and rutabaga casseroles brings out their full flavors; these are a staple on Christmas tables.
Another Christmas dish is milk rice porridge (riisipuuroa in Finnish), which is accompanied by a hidden almond. Whoever finds it is said to have a prosperous year and good health. The practice of serving the porridge with a pre-inserted spoon, which is then left aside, originated from an ancient superstition that whoever took the first mouthful would die the next year.
Swedish families often enjoy lutefisk, also known as lipeäkala in Finnish, which is a special kind of soaked cod. The fish is steeped in an acidic solution all summer and then sun-dried. A special mustard sauce is given to it when it is cooked on Christmas Eve. “Lutefisk” has a jelly-like consistency.
There used to be two meals on Christmas Eve. One was a special dark Christmas beer served with rice porridge and lutefisk. As a traditional dessert, the Finns always give gingerbread cookies, or a gingerbread home (piparkakkutalo) and puff pastries filled with plum jam (joulutorttuja). Hot mulled wine (glögi) with spices, raisins, and almonds is a traditional Christmas drink in Finland.
Special importance is placed on making waffles, pastries, and cookies in the days leading up to Christmas in the country. A practice of making festive dough masterpieces arose since the Northern Christmas meal was not very diversified. Using finely ground flour, even bread was made to be very delicious. Bread and cookies made by Finnish families are typically shaped like various animals and objects, such as birds, horses, cows, and sheep. Cross-shaped biscuits are also fairly prevalent.
The plethora of baked goods on display at Christmas time echoed an ancient Finnish proverb that goes something like, “The heavier the head of the owner from food, the better the harvest will be in the coming year.” In addition to the aforementioned meals, typical fare in the northern Oulu area includes things like handmade cheese, pea casserole, and beer. Fruit jelly and rice porridge are provided as desserts.
Christmas Decorations for Finns
“Julestjerne” (Christmas star or poinsettia)
Blue and white colors associated with Joulupukki (Finnish Santa Claus).
Red tablecloths, candles, and flowers
Christmas tree
Hyacinths
Christmas lilies
Lilacs
Lily of the Valley
Camellias
Christmas roses
Christmas cacti
Tulips
White chrysanthemums
Branches
Pinecones
In Finland, red is the color associated with Christmas. Tablecloths, candles, Christmas decorations, flowers, and other festive garments all contain it. Finland traditionally decorates its houses with flowers for Christmas, in addition to the ever-present Christmas tree that originated in the 18th century.
Being one of the few plants to blossom in the hard Finnish winter during the 19th century, the hyacinth has been a symbol of Christmas for more than 140 years. Although hyacinths were originally exclusively available in pink, they are now available in white and blue as well. Interestingly, Joulupukki (the Finnish Santa Claus) is said to like the colors blue and white (like Ded Moroz and his helper Snegurochka in Russia and Turkic countries).
Christmas lilies and lilacs were traditional gifts in the late 1800s. Lily of the Valley was a popular choice since it could be purchased or produced in one’s own garden; gardening guides from the era were plentiful in popular periodicals.
Camellias and Christmas roses, which are still sold in flower stores throughout the Christmas season, took their place as these flowers in the early 20th century.
Christmas cacti and tulips have been part of the traditional Christmas flower arrangement since 1910. One of the most common Christmas flower choices in the 1930s was the white chrysanthemum. Flowers were in short supply during the war years, so many resorted to using branches, pinecones, and candles as decorations.
“Julestjerne” (meaning “Christmas star” in Finnish) was a Norwegian poinsettia variation that emerged in the 1960s. This stunning crimson shrub has long been associated with the holiday season in Finland.
Colombians celebrate Christmas with great joy for more than a month. The Day of the Little Candles, celebrated on December 7th, is the unofficial start of Christmas. On this day, Colombians commemorate the Virgin Mary by placing paper lanterns and candles. Nativity sets, poinsettias, Christmas trees, and votive candles are traditional ornaments in Colombia, and lights, traditional flowers, and manger scenes depicting the birth of Jesus decorate the fronts of most residences. During the well-known “Noche Buena” celebration on Christmas Eve, guests partake in chocolate parties that include fritters, custard, and bonus bread. A well-known way to welcome Christmas in Colombia is with a fireworks display called “Popular Dawn” that begins at midnight and continues until sunset on January 1.
Beginning in the latter half of November, vendors set up shop at the Christmas markets in Colombia to sell anything from trees and clothing to garlands and Christmas flowers, as well as lights, fireworks, and the ever-popular custard combination, which is a typical Colombian holiday meal. The appearance of the markets unofficially marks the beginning of the holiday.
Approximately 90% of Colombians identify as Christian and about 71% of them are Roman Catholic, while 17% are Protestant (mostly Evangelical) or belong to some other Christian denomination.
Las Velitas
On December 7th, Colombians celebrate El Día de Las Velitas, also known as the Day of the Little Candles, which signifies the beginning of the end-of-year celebrations. In addition to lighting lanterns and candles in front of their homes and businesses, they also line the streets with them. With each candle you light, you have the power to say a prayer or express a wish. The Colombian city council decides who has the best-decorated neighborhood and gives out prizes to the winner.
Houses are expected to fly a white flag all day long on December 8th, decorated with a picture of the Virgin Mary since this celebration is a tribute to her alleged Immaculate Conception.
La Novena
Gathering nightly around the pesebre, the Christmas nativity scene, families pray, sing, dance salsa, cumbia, or merengue, and share snacks during La Novena, which is the nine days leading up to Christmas, December 16th to 24th. A chance to become closer to loved ones is presented at this celebration. Since Basque culture is quite present in this country, its traditions are reflected in Colombian Christmas customs.
On the evening of December 24th, Colombians congregate around the Christmas supper to celebrate. Holiday favorites include buñuelos, which are little balls of fried cheese dough eaten hot; el pavo, which is a stuffed turkey with a mixture of raisins and nuts; and el pernil, which is smoked and cooked bone-in ham served with sweet sauces and sometimes saffron rice. Neat cakes (natillas), prepared from panela, cane sugar, cinnamon, cornstarch, milk, and cloves, are one of several sweets enjoyed by Colombians. Those who are interested may attend the midnight mass after lunch. In Colombia, on Christmas morning, the “Little Jesus” is believed to be the one who gives the presents instead of Santa Claus.
Aguinaldos: the Christmas Games
The Christmas games where adults and children wager presents are called Aguinaldos. Tres pies is a very popular game in which players try to prevent their opponents from putting their foot in between theirs. Pajita en boca is another game where players are required to keep a straw in their mouths throughout the day. Also very popular is the game Ni oui ni non (“Neither yes, nor no”), which requires players to refrain from speaking any one of those terms (also known as “Yes, no, black, white” in other countries).
Christmas Decorations in Colombia
Houses in Colombia are lit, and prizes are given to those with the greatest decorations in a nationwide contest during the Christmas season. The Christmas lights of Medellín and the neighboring communities in the Boyacá area are famous, and the city has set aside ten million dollars just for them almost every year. That’s why Medellín has been selected by National Geographic as one of the top cities worldwide to marvel at Christmas lights.
Colombian Christmas Foods
Colombian food has its own distinct combination of tastes and dishes, however it isn’t as well-known throughout the world as other cuisines.
Buñuelos: Savory fritters popularly enjoyed during the Christmas season in Colombia.
Pineapple Coleslaw: A customary Colombian Christmas dish suitable as an appetizer and a side.
Tamales: A well-known Latin dish, particularly cherished in Colombia throughout Christmas.
Ajiaco Soup: A flavorsome soup consisting of chicken, potatoes, and corn.
Lechona: A pork roast filled with peas and rice.
Arepas: Fried cornmeal cakes filled with various options like meat or vegetables.
Gelatina de Colores o Mosaico: A vibrant gelatin dessert served during holiday family meals.
The Icelandic Christmas celebration, known as Jól, combines traditional folklore and religious practices. The celebrations begin four weeks before Christmas Day, on Epiphany, and last thirteen days. The 13 Yule Lads, an Icelandic version of Santa Claus, put modest presents in the shoes of youngsters placed by the window. As a means to commemorate ancestors, Icelandic homes are decorated with Advent lights, while cemeteries and gravestones are also ornamented. A non-alcoholic concoction of Maltöl and Appelsín, a regional orange soda, is a traditional Christmas drink in this country. Elves, Yule Lads, and Icelanders say goodbye to one another with dances and bonfires that round off the holiday season until next Christmas.
The Name for “Christmas” in Icelandic
The Icelandic word for “Christmas” is “jól.” An old pagan festival commemorating the winter solstice is linked with this word, which is also present in Old Norse. Possible connections to words in other Germanic languages suggest that this word may have originated from a reconstructed Germanic form *jew-la-ja, meaning “the period when the sun moves.” However, the exact origin of the word is unknown. “Gleðileg jól!” is the default Christmas greeting in Iceland for “Merry Christmas”.
Christian Christmas festivities eventually absorbed the old winter solstice rituals in the history of Iceland. Puritan laws in the 16th century had an impact on Christmas customs in the country, much as they had in the United Kingdom and the United States.
The islanders’ primary industry during the Advent season shifted to woolen products, which were eventually traded for Christmas presents in the years that followed. Icelanders would use sticks (“toothpick”) to keep their workers awake during the “stick week” leading up to Christmas.
Faith-Based Christmas Practices
In Iceland, it is customary to pay respects at the graves of ancestors who have passed away on the morning of Christmas Eve (Aðfangadagur in Icelandic), which is December 24th. Also, on December 24th, church bells in Iceland traditionally sound at 6 o’clock.
The Icelandic Christmas tree has been a part of the country’s celebrations since 1863. It was originally intended to utilize mountain ash trees instead of fir trees since there are no naturally occurring evergreens in this nation. Roughly eighty-five percent of Icelanders still put up a Christmas tree.
Along with that, from 1951 until 2013, the city of Oslo generously lit a big Christmas tree in Reykjavík. Because of the exorbitant expenses of shipping, this practice was stopped. The big tree that is lit up every year in the capital of Iceland is still called the “Oslo Christmas Tree” in honor of the longstanding tradition and goodwill between the two nations.
In remembrance of an Icelandic fisherman who fed the people of the Hanseatic metropolis during the terrible famine of 1946–1947, the German city of Hamburg also annually sends a Christmas tree to the capital of Iceland as a token of appreciation.
On the first Sunday of Advent, this tree is illuminated.
Icelandic Advent Wreath
While records of the Advent wreath practice in Iceland date back to the 1930s, it wasn’t until the ’60s and ’70s that it really took off.
Jólabókaflóð: Christmas Book Flood
Jólabókaflóð, which means “Christmas book flood” in English, is a common practice in Iceland that involves giving books as Christmas presents. This practice first started when paper was one of the few commodities exempt from import restrictions during WWII. Every year around November, Icelandic publishers send the Bókatíðindi, a catalog of books set to be published in December, to every household in the nation, adding to this tradition.
Sending Christmas cards is a rooted tradition in Iceland; however, these days, virtually half of Icelanders reportedly send their holiday greetings via email. One might still come across Christmas cards with puffins, a bird that represents Iceland or cards that showcase the Reykjavik skyline or Hallgrímskirkja cathedral.
Grýla, Leppalúði, the Jólasveinar, and the Yule Cat
Grýla, the female monster that is said to be always hungry, and her husband Leppalúði live at Bláfjöll (“Blue Mountain”), close to Reykjavík, according to the traditional story. She reappears around Christmastime in search of mischievous kids to kidnap.
The thirteen elves known as the Jólasveinar (the “Christmas boys”) are the progeny of Grýla and Leppalúði. Their names range from Stekkjarstaur and Giljagaur to Stúfur, Þvörusleikir, Pottaskefill, Askasleikir, Hurðaskellir, Skyrgámur, Bjúgnakraekir, Gluggagægir, Gáttaþefur, Ketkrókur, and Kertasníkir. During the thirteen days between Christmas and Epiphany, beginning on December 12, the eve of Santa Lucia, they come down from the mountain each night to steal food or play tricks on children before going back home, one by one.
Grýla and Leppalúði also have a scary domestic animal called the Christmas Cat or Yule Cat, which is said to abduct and eat anyone—children or adults alike—on Christmas night if they aren’t wearing or haven’t gotten a new outfit. It seems that this myth was spread to inspire hard work in the spinning and weaving of wool and yarn.
The Icelandic government issued an order in 1746 outlawing the spreading of terrifying Yule Lad tales to youngsters, which contributed to the gradual meliorism of these entities and their eventual incorporation into Santa Claus. So, the Jólasveinar have become gift carriers, and kids put out a shoe to see if Santa would fill it. But a dried potato is what the mischievous kids get, while treats and other gifts are reserved for the good kids.
The Icelandic Christmas Foods
Laufabrauð
Laufabrauð, a layer of flat, circular-rectangular bread that is cooked in oil and then adorned, is one of the essential dishes in Iceland’s Christmas culinary heritage. The first Sunday in December is traditionally reserved for its preparation and storage in anticipation of Christmas Eve. A specialized knife known as a laufabrauðsjárn is used for the cutting process. Béchamel, potatoes, and smoked lamb are some possible accompaniments.
Laufabrauð has a long history, dating back to the 18th century, when it was a popular delicacy among the well-to-do.
In the 19th century, it became closely linked with Christmas. The once-exorbitant price of flour could explain its slender form.
Kæst Skata
As a long-standing custom, kæst skata, or fermented skate, is traditionally eaten on December 23, the night before Christmas Eve, on the feast day of St. Ðórlákur, bishop of Skálholt. A poll found that 100,000 Icelanders observed this tradition in 2013.
One of the most important festivals observed on December 25 in Poland is Christmas, which is known as Boże Narodzenie (“Birth of God”) in Polish. Although most Poles see Christmas more as a secular family celebration than a religious one, everyone celebrates the holiday in their own unique way. Most Polish people’s idea of a good Christmas is spending time with loved ones. Before breaking the Christmas wafer, Poles meet for a communal feast on Christmas Eve, December 24. They swap presents and best wishes. The Christmas Mass, or “pasterka,” is celebrated in churches on the evenings of December 24th and 25th. Christmas markets are held in several Polish cities all through December.
A four-week season of fasting and preparation known as Advent precedes Christmas in Poland, as it does in other Catholic nations. During this season, Christians are encouraged by the Catholic Church to repent and do acts of kindness. Compared to an earlier figure of almost 90%, today, 70% of Poles are Catholic.
Polish churches celebrate morning masses honoring the Virgin Mary, known as “Roraty” (a votive mass), every day of Advent (with the exception of Sundays). The service starts at the crack of dawn, with the only light from the parishioners’ candles.
Important Advent Symbols:
Advent wreaths: Advent wreaths crafted from fir branches and embellished with candles, illuminated one by one throughout the season.
Christmas calendar: Traditional Christmas calendars would start counting down the days until Christmas Eve at the start of Advent.
Christmas lanterns: Square or rectangular Christmas lanterns adorned with biblical images or Christian motifs. A light bulb or candle is placed within.
Christmas Eve: Sochelnik
December 24th, often known as Christmas Eve (Sochelnik in Polish) is related with many Christmas rituals. The majority of Poles take the day off from work, and businesses close early or stay open for a reduced schedule.
Traditionally, on Christmas Eve, the Poles gather with their families to celebrate. As soon as the first star appears in the sky, devout families start reading the Bible and praying. This is in observance of the Star of Bethlehem, which, according to the New Testament, led the magi to the infant Jesus.
As is customary, the Christmas wafer (opłatek) is passed around and wishes exchanged. It is a thin Polish tradition of a rectangular loaf of unleavened bread or waffle. Instead of coloring them as in the past, it’s now traditional to bake white wafers with embossed designs of Christmas scenes. Christians remember the sacrament of the Eucharist by the practice of breaking the wafer, which also represents unity and reconciliation.
Family members who are unable to join the celebration often send wafers over the mail as a token of their importance to the custom. After then, one seat remains empty at the table while all the participants take their seats. The seat is saved for an unnamed visitor and the host is prepared to welcome and feed any stranger this evening. Furthermore, a particular setting is laid out on the table in honor of family members who have passed away.
The Polish traditionally have two courses prepared for the Christmas table: one for those who fast and one for those who consume meat. Due to the continued fasting on December 24th, no meat is served until the following day. Fasting supper on Christmas Eve is the most important celebratory meal, but the diversity and complexity of the dishes more than make up for the constraints. There should be twelve dishes, representing the number of apostles, and everyone at the table is expected to sample them all, according to tradition.
Typical starters for the feast include borscht with dumplings or mushroom soup, followed by pies, dumplings, stewed cabbage, different fish dishes, gingerbread, kutya with nuts, raisins, and honey, and a compote of dried fruits for dessert. In remembrance of the manger where Jesus was laid, a little amount of hay is often put underneath the white tablecloth that covers the table. Even though the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith decided in 2003 that Christmas Eve fasting is not obligatory, most Polish Christians nevertheless follow the customary fasting.
Pasterka: “The Shepherds’ Mass”
In remembrance of the shepherds who came to worship the infant Jesus Christ, many Poles attend church on the evenings of December 24th and 25th for the Christmas service, which is referred to as “Shepherd’s Mass” or “Pasterka” (from the word “pasterz” meaning shepherd). Even though Christians have been holding night services since the fifth century, the practice almost died out in Western Europe during the eighteenth century.
Two centuries later, during the pontificate of John Paul II, the Catholic Church resumed the tradition of celebrating night Mass in Poland, making it one of the few nations that maintained this practice. At midnight (or perhaps earlier), Polish churches hold Pasterka, which lasts for about 1.5 hours.
Every church has a traditional Christmas crib where the priest traditionally sets a figurine of the Baby Jesus during the ceremony. There is an air of seriousness in the liturgical songs sung throughout this Mass. Several thousand Christians are drawn to the Shepherd’s Mass at the Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa, which is the greatest gathering of its kind.
Christmas Traditions in Poland
Holiday Decorations and Present Exchange
Podłaźniczka, the Polish upside-down Christmas tree tradition. Ciacho5, cc by sa 4.0, enhanced.
Polish Christmas trees and streets are decked up with multicolored lights, much as in other European countries. This is especially meaningful for Catholics on Christmas Eve, when the tree is decked up with beautiful ornaments to represent the tree of paradise bearing fruits, and December 24th is the day Adam and Eve were created.
It is another common practice to exchange gifts on Christmas Eve (December 24th). Tradition holds that Saint Nicholas bestows presents upon children in Poland; however, the specific figure may differ depending on where one lives. In Western Poland, it is Gwiazdor (meaning “star” in Polish), in Lesser Poland, an angel, in the southwest of Poland, asterisk or little star, and in Silesia, the Baby Jesus. Also, Polish Orthodox Christians are visited by the famous Russian figure Ded Moroz (“Father Frost”).
Caroling and Music
Bóg się rodzi (God Is Born), the text of which was written in 1792 by Franciszek Karpiński.
Lulajże Jezuniu (Sleep Jesus), a 17th century children’s song.
W żłobie leży (Infant Holy, Infant Lowly), 16th-17th century Christmas carol, with text attributed to the Polish writer Piotr Skarga (1536–1612).
Polish Christmas music traditionally features carols, of which over 1,500 have been officially recorded in Poland. Historians of music generally agree that the composition and performance of celebratory songs describing the birth of Jesus started in Poland somewhere between the late fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries. ‘Zdrow bądź, krolu anielski’ (‘Hail, Angelic King’) is the first line of the oldest surviving Polish Christmas song, which goes back to 1424. Carols range from very serious to more lighthearted, with lyrics that might be sarcastic or comical.
‘Oj, maluśki, maluśki’ (‘Oh, little one, little one’), ‘Dzisiaj w Betlejem’ (‘Today in Bethlehem’), ‘Gdy śliczna Panna’ (‘When the Beautiful Virgin’), and the world-renowned ‘Silent Night’ are among the most famous carols. Starting on Christmas Eve and continuing through the night Mass on Christmas Day, carols are sung until February 2.
On December 26, the feast of Saint Stephen the First Martyr, which falls on the second day of Christmas, Poles start caroling, performing house-to-house carol concerts. There was a time when people thought that caroling helped bring about the springtime blooms in nature, and now many think that singing brings good fortune and harmony to the home. Carolers would often travel with domestic animals, but as time went on, they would often be joined by people dressed as similar animals, such as bulls, goats, horses, etc.
Similarly, it was common practice to dress like figures from the Bible, most notably King Herod and the Magi. A huge, multicolored star strung from a pole is known as a “star procession,” and it is still a popular tradition. Giving carolers refreshments or a little money is common practice; sometimes, the gathered monies are used for charity causes. It is common practice for Polish Catholic priests to visit the homes of their parishioners either before or after Christmas to sing carols and socialize with the congregation. There are distinct traditions for caroling in each area of Poland.
Lithuanian Christmas nativities, called szopka in Polish, have been around since the Middle Ages. During the Christmas season, they are placed in every church and portray the scene of Christ’s birth. The szopka of Krakow has become a well-known and unique folk-art style. Usually depicting one of Krakow’s famous locations, these two-tiered sculptures show biblical figures on the upper level and historical or current individuals on the lower level. On the first Thursday of December, the Market Square hosts a szopka competition, the winner of which is chosen by the Krakow Historical Museum.
Competitors range from students and other novices to seasoned artisans who have honed their techniques over the years and passed them on to their descendants. As of 2018, the Krakow szopka was officially recognized as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO. Particularly noteworthy are the nativities in Kudowa and Olsztyn, which also have a high number of figurines and moving parts, and the biggest nativity in Europe, housed inside a church.
The nativities in the hamlet of Wambierzyce comprise 800 wooden figures, 300 of which are animated. The dimensions of the structure—59 feet in height, 115 feet in width, and 33 feet in depth—are those of the Franciscan Cathedral in Katowice.
Holiday Markets
Christmas markets are a December tradition in most Polish towns, and they’re becoming more and more popular every year. Decorative and applied art, knitted socks, a variety of confectionery, jewelry, and Christmas decorations are all for sale in tents or wooden cottages. Kids may enjoy rides, carousels, and other forms of entertainment. In a typical Polish market, you may have grilled ‘oscypek,’ a cheese from Polish highlanders, accompanied with cranberry jam. Warsaw, Wroclaw, Krakow, Gdansk, and Katowice all have enormous and stunning markets, however the exact times vary from city to city.
Christmas Foods in Poland
Guests from outside the family were required to have one empty seat at the Christmas Eve supper since the number of courses had to be odd (often thirteen) and the number of table settings had to be even. Instead of meat, there should be twelve vegetarian options on the Christmas Eve menu (to represent the following year’s months). Some examples of these dishes include seafood macaroni, filled dumplings, carp, cabbage with peas, and mushroom soup.
Sweet Treats
Opłatek: ‘Opłatek,’ a delicate wafer adorned with a religious picture, is a traditional Polish dessert. It is customary for the family patriarch to give out opłatek to all members of the family and the cattle in the days leading up to the Christmas Eve meal. The act of sharing opłatek within a family represents selflessness and the readiness to divide up the rewards of everyday labor. Although the practice of serving opłatek to families has its roots in the 18th century, the custom of making it in the Middle Ages is far older.
Kutya: Wheat, hazelnuts, raisins, and honey are the main ingredients of kutya, a traditional Polish Christmas dessert.
Piernik: Piernik, a honey cake in a variety of shapes (heart, animal, or St. Nicholas) is also a traditional Polish Christmas treat.
Makowiec: Polish poppy seeds, or “mak” in Polish, represent joy and plenty and they are a hallmark of this traditional Christmas dessert.
Christmas Drinks
Traditionally, dried fruits (such as plums) are used to make kompot, a traditional Polish Christmas drink.
Polish Christmas Folk Traditions
Szopka, Nativity Scene: Polish Christmas traditions revolve on the nativity scene, or “szopka,” which is put up throughout the holiday season. The practice of making little houses adorned with Nativity scenes and placing them under the Christmas tree became popular among Krakow’s masons and laborers in the 18th century as a means of supplementing their income. Krakow hosts an annual competition to crown the most exquisite nativity displays. The “puppet nativity scene,” is a unique kind of Polish nativity scene that has its roots in the 18th-century arrangement by Polish priests. A similar tradition is seen in Hungary and Ukraine.
The First Star: As soon as the first star of Christmas Eve appears in the sky, the traditional Christmas Eve feast is started. This relates to the Star of Bethlehem, which the three wise men supposedly saw in the sky when they came to see the baby Jesus. At the beginning of the meal, someone reads a portion about Jesus’ birth from either Matthew or Luke’s Gospel.
Hay Under the Tablecloth: Traditionally, a handful of hay is placed beneath the white tablecloth. This tradition has its roots in pagan times, when it was associated with an old agricultural celebration; the pagan idea was that it would bring prosperity to the household in the next year. Jesus was born into poverty, and the hay represents that.
An Extra Seat at the Table: It is common practice to reserve one more seat at the table in comparison to the total number of guests. This act represents holding a seat for someone who shows up unannounced, paying tribute to a loved one who has passed away, or honoring someone who is unable to attend.
Christmas Tree: Polish Christmas trees had their origins in the 18th century, when the custom was brought to the country. ‘Podłaźniczka,’ a comparable tradition that existed prior to the Christmas tree, included suspending the fir tree’s top from a beam or the barn door. Polish nationalists responded to the arrival of the German Christmas tree custom by designing ornaments based on Polish folklore.
Pajaki: Traditional embellishments also include ‘pająki,’ which are stars or eggs that have been adorned.
Gift Bearers: “The Star Men, or ‘gwiazdor,’” are one of the traditional gift-givers with Santa Claus.
In Sweden, Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Christ, a tradition that has its origins in the ancient pagan festival of “Jul” and which has evolved via Christian (especially Lutheran) traditions as well as more contemporary, indigenous, and international practices. Compared to previous centuries, its religious aspects have taken a back seat in modern observance, which has been somewhat watered down, secularized, and commercialized.
Advent candle holders and children’s “Christmas” calendars serve as indoor heralds of the impending holidays, while Christmas decorations decorate store windows and sidewalks. Candles, table runners, miniature carpets, gnomes, angels, and gingerbread houses are the festive decorations that are put up in homes in the days leading up to Christmas in Sweden. Green wreaths fashioned from lingonberry or pine branches are often draped over entryways.
Christmas Eve, December 24th, is the most important day of the year in Scandinavian nations, which is a unique tradition. On this day, guests gather for Christmas Eve supper and exchange presents while watching a special television presentation featuring Walt Disney’s iconic flicks. Nordic Christmas traditions include nativity scenes and Christmas trees, julklappar (Christmas gifts), “God Jul!” (Christmas greetings on holiday cards), Jultomte (the Swedish equivalent of Santa Claus), and julbock (Christmas goat).
Christmas Traditions in Sweden
Holiday Greeting Cards
Painting by Jenny Nyström (1854-1946)
Jullkort, the first Christmas card, debuted in 1843, three years after the British postal stamp was invented. The card, which was painted by an unknown Mason, was written by John Callcott Horsley. The price of each card was less than 1 shilling, and there were 1000 of them sold. The Christmas card was a staple of the holiday season by the 1860s. It spread over the globe, including Sweden, in the decades that followed, becoming a common means of communication.
Germany quickly started printing postcards with Swedish Christmas greetings for the Swedish market when the Swedish postal agency (Postverket) instituted a half-price cut for shipping postcards in 1877. After founding an artistic publishing firm in 1890, Axel Eliasson started producing postcards and, later, Christmas cards in 1898. Jenny Nyström was employed by him as a graphic designer. She supposedly created more than five thousand postcards and a large number of them had holiday themes.
The gnomes, which she loved, quickly became the most popular design for Swedish Christmas cards; in fact, they became a hallmark that set them apart from their Catholic counterparts, whose cards often included religious themes. The first Christmas stamp was issued by the Hungarian postal office in 1943; in 1972, the Swedish postal service adopted the concept and used Jenny Nyström’s artwork to great effect.
Even after the Protestant Reformation, Christians continued to observe the Christian festival of Advent, which marks the beginning of their preparation for Christ’s return. Among its messengers is the Advent star, or adventstjärna in Sweden. In the spirit of Christmas and to light up their houses throughout the winter season, Swedes hang Advent stars of many forms and colors every year. In one school in the German town of Herrnhut in the 1880s, pupils and instructors created the first Advent star using paper and internal lights.
After marrying German Julia Marx in 1912, Professor Sven Erik Aurelius brought the Advent star to Sweden. Herrnhut gave them an Advent star (Herrnhuter Stern, Swedish: Herrnhutstjärna) as a wedding present, and the newlyweds displayed it proudly in their Lund house. The Advent star was well-received by Lund families. The Swedish market began selling Advent stars imported from Germany in 1934, and that’s when the name was given to them.
During the 1940s, a more basic version of the Advent stars started to be placed in windows all throughout Sweden. The star has now grown in significance to the point that it rivals the Christmas tree as a central symbol of Swedish Christmas celebrations. It represents the Star of Bethlehem, which allegedly guided the three wise men to the crib of the infant Jesus.
In Swedish Christmas festivities, the julgran (Christmas tree) serves as a unifying symbol for both modern and ancient rituals, as well as for rural and urban ways of life. According to urban legend, cows would be protected from gnomes during the Christmas season by planting evergreen trees in strategic locations, such as dung dumps. But these traditions are unrelated to the decorated Christmas tree of today. The custom of adorning a Christmas tree with candles originated in Protestant Germany during the 1600s and 1700s, but its roots may be found in southern Germany and Switzerland.
Carl August Schwerdgeburth, a German painter of the nineteenth century, painted a scene of Martin Luther and his family celebrating Christmas Eve in 1536. The scene depicts Luther lighting a candle on a table, with a little Christmas tree visible in the background. It would seem that Luther is being portrayed as the “inventor” of the Christmas tree in reproductions of this image that are displayed in several Swedish households. Ahistorical tales lend credence to this story, although the Christmas tree was really created by Protestants (or adopted by Central Asia) in Germany. Lutheranism grew so associated with them that German Catholics scornfully called it the “religion of the Christmas tree.”
Catholics gave Christmas a public and dramatic quality, whereas Lutherans and Calvinists stressed the family aspect. It wasn’t until 1632 that a Swedish soldier recuperating from wounds sustained in war in a Leipzig residence saw a Christmas tree adorned with candles that word of the tradition spread throughout Sweden. The 1740s saw the introduction of Christmas trees to the mansions of Sweden’s nobility.
Although Christmas trees were first popular among city residents and well-off country folk in Sweden, it took another hundred years for them to catch on with the rest of the country. Even back then, there were little trees that held candles on a tabletop. The first floor-to-ceiling Christmas trees appeared in the middle of the nineteenth century, and by the beginning of the twentieth century, they were commonplace in the houses of small-scale farmers and laborers.
Christmas trees started popping up in public places and malls in the 1920s. It was also common practice to use Christmas tree branches as doormats during the holidays. Despite the Christmas tree’s global rise in the twentieth century, its adoption was met with reluctance in southern Catholic nations like Italy because of their long-established practice of Nativity scenes. The mass manufacture of synthetic Christmas trees is the most recent development.
The julkrubba, or Nativity scene, has its roots in Catholic culture. Saint Francis of Assisi put up the first-ever Nativity scene on Christmas 1223 at Greccio. Part of the enigma surrounding the Nativity was conveyed by this lifelike Nativity tableau, which included an ox and a donkey. Typical Renaissance nativity scenes may be seen in churches around the world today. This artistic movement began in the 16th century in Spain and Italy and quickly expanded north of the Alps. It was forbidden to exhibit Nativity scenes in churches in Sweden following the Protestant Reformation.
Only in the nineteenth century did nativity scenes start popping up in Stockholm’s German neighborhoods. Such a Nativity scene was detailed in the diaries of author Märta Helena Reenstierna in 1804. It wasn’t until 1929 that pastor Albert Lysander of Malmö’s St. Peter’s Church had the courage to exhibit a Nativity scene he had bought in Germany, despite the fact that for a long time, such decorations were seen as quite un-Lutheran. He found inspiration in the structures seen in Protestant churches in Germany.
In the 1930s, the practice of showcasing Nativity scenes expanded from Malmö throughout the whole Skåne area. Stockholm saw the emergence of this practice in several local churches throughout the 1930s as well. But first, carefully presented in parish halls, and subsequently, in the churches themselves, are Nativity scenes. Nativity scenes quickly became commonplace throughout Sweden. To this day, they remain the only part of modern Swedish Christmas festivities that supports the holiday’s original Christian meaning.
The modern-day image of Santa Claus as the savior of Christmases past has its roots in stories about St. Nicholas. Leading a goat on a leash, he made his appearance on the continent in medieval mystery plays performed on December 6. In a symbolic act, St. Nicholas subdued the devil with the goat (see Krampus). It was common practice for the bearer of Christmas gifts to disguise themselves as a goat in aristocratic circles beginning in the 18th century.
Santa Claus stepped into the goat’s shoes at the close of the nineteenth century. In the 1840s, the English press published the first illustrations of Santa Claus. Comparatively, the Swedish Jultomten combines the European custom of Santa Claus bringing Christmas gifts with the Swedish gårdstomten (nisse), also known as a garden gnome or “goenisse,” who was not involved in gift-giving but rather in taking care of the farm and its animals.
Even though he couldn’t be seen, he had a smack for everyone who ignored the animals. Gnomes watch peasant yards; therefore, on Christmas Eve, hosts would leave a bowl of porridge for them. Jenny Nyström, who became known as tomtens mamma (Santa’s mother) after immortalizing these gnomes in hundreds of paintings in the 1880s, greatly increased their prominence as the primary holiday emblem.
Even though Juldagen or Christmas Day, on the 25th of December, was deemed too joyful for the celebrations of children and young adults, the festive mood quickly faded in the late afternoon or early evening of December 25th and 26th since the young people had already started a pan-Scandinavian tradition of parading the Christmas goat (julbock).
The earliest Christmas sign in Sweden is probably the straw goat, a traditional Swedish Christmas ornament that has its roots in the medieval devil, who featured in school Saint Nicholas masquerades. Later iterations used the yule goat prominently in a lighthearted Christmas play that the kids put on to collect some food and drinks for the dances. Originally used to give presents on Christmas Eve in the 18th century, the jultomten goat has now been used only as a decorative item for Christmas for more than a century.
Christmas Gifts
Christmas gifts (julklappar) were not traditionally a big part of Swedish Christmas traditions. Gifts for children were rare in affluent families in the 17th and 18th centuries, but they became commonplace in peasant homes much later. Before surreptitiously knocking on doors (Swedish: klappa, meaning “to knock on the door”), the earliest “julklappar” were just simple presents. A straw doll, a plank of wood, or even the bladder of a pig could be presented.
It was common practice to affix a poem, either humorous or insulting, to the gift. In this manner, rural communities’ Christmas festivities began to include gift-giving. Other forms of generosity, which are supposed to define Christmas, were also on display in Sweden. All farm residents were required to collect their presents. The impoverished residents of the town were remembered as they cooked bread and cast candles. Even the farm animals were given special treats on Christmas Eve, thanks to this kind spirit.
Midnight Mass
Because the Reformation restricted nocturnal devotions to a single night a year, the two morning Masses celebrated on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Sweden are relics of the Middle Ages. It used to be held at a much earlier hour than the current 7 a.m.
Christmas Dishes in Sweden
Swedish julbord at Christmas.
Dopp and grytan (breads steeped in broth after cooking ham)
Oatmeal with herring marinade
Kakor (cookies)
Saffranlussekatter (saffron buns baked on Saint Lucy’s Day)
Pepparkaksgrisar (gingerbread pigs)
Julöl (Christmas beer)
Sylt (jellies)
Julkorv (sausage)
Pig’s trotters
Lutefisk (dried fish soaked in a lye solution)
Julskinka (Christmas ham)
Köttbullar (meatballs)
Prinskorv (small sausage)
Janssons frestelse (a potato and anchovy casserole)
Surströmming (sill or herring)
Gravlax (marinated salmon)
Ägghalvor (egg halves packed with salad)
Turkey
While the religious parts of the Swedish Christmas celebration have all but vanished, the traditional meals served at the Christmas table (julbord) remain a secular part of the holiday and a symbol of the Swedes’ traditionalism. There has always been a strong correlation between the holiday spirit and food and drink. The traditional rules of fasting enforced by the Catholic Church provide some justification for this. Indulging in food following the conclusion of fasting was also influenced by the ritual of slaughtering a particularly fattened pig right before the holidays.
Dopp and grytan, which are breads steeped in broth after cooking ham, are examples of foods that were previously commonplace. The traditional Swedish Christmas table also reflects the influence of older culinary technology and preservation techniques. Here are a few examples: oatmeal with herring marinade, cookies called kakor, saffranlussekatter, pepparkaksgrisar, julöl, and saffron buns baked on Saint Lucy’s Day.
Additional examples include oatmeal and herring marinades. The Christmas meal used to differ by region; for instance, pike was the main course in eastern Sweden and among Swedes residing in Finland, but in northern Sweden, veal and beef were more typical. Nowadays, there are no major social or regional differences in the Christmas meal.
Uppsala University professor of culinary studies Christina Fjellström claims that it is difficult to pinpoint the exact dates when certain Swedish Christmas foods first appeared on the table because of a lack of primary sources. Due to their extensive history, dopp and grytan are likely two of the oldest foods. The Swedish Christmas table is a symbol of the blending of Christian and pagan customs (midvinterblot). Besides dopp, some of the earliest meals that are likely still around today include sylt (jellies), several kinds of julkorv (sausage), and other portions of the pig that were prepared during pagan times.
Similarly, pig’s trotters are an old cuisine that is almost gone now. Dopp and lutefisk, two delicacies with a lengthy history, are also on the decline. Other foods are starting to take center stage in their place. As it stands, julskinka (Christmas ham) is the centerpiece of most Christmas dinners. Also very popular are the meatballs (köttbullar), prinskorv (small sausage), Janssons frestelse (Jansson’s temptation), and herring (sill or surströmming). Contrary to popular belief, Christmas ham is really a sophisticated kind of pork that was traditionally reserved for special occasions. Instead, commoners would eat the pig’s head around Christmas.
Ham didn’t start appearing on Christmas tables until the 18th century, and even then, it was only in the homes of the nobility. It wasn’t uncommon for regular folks to have it on their tables around a century ago. It wasn’t until after WWII that the relatively new dish known as Köttbullar became a traditional Christmas meal. Gravlax (marinated salmon) and ägghalvor (egg halves packed with salad) are two further culinary innovations. According to Fjellström, the foods served at the Swedish Christmas table are subject to constant change, mostly as a result of outside forces. Turkey, a dish with roots in the United States and England, is gaining a lot of fans in Sweden.
Christmas Dates in Sweden
Advent encompasses the time from the first Sunday of Advent to Christmas Eve. Each of the four Sundays that fall within this time frame is known as an Advent Sunday.
December 13: Lucia (Saint Lucy’s Day)
December 24: Christmas Eve (julafton)
December 25: Christmas Day (juldagen; public holiday)
December 26: Boxing Day (annandag jul, annandagen; public holiday)
January 6: Epiphany (trettondedag jul, trettondedagen; public holiday)
January 13: St. Knut’s Day (tjugondag Knut, Canute Lavard)
February 2: Candlemas (Kyndelsmässodagen; the end of Christmas).
On November 4, 1772, along with several other holidays, the regulation “The regulation of November 4, 1772, addresses the observance of the Sabbath and the alteration or cancellation of specific holidays” abolished the third and fourth days of Christmas in Sweden, which was a former observer of these days.
Advent
Advent, from the Latin adventus, means “coming,” suggesting that Jesus will return. Advent was the first Sunday of Lent, when Catholics began to fast. But there were cases when the Advent season did not coincide with fasting. A post-Epiphany fast connected with January 6th, in preparation for the Baptism of the Lord, was observed before the decision was made to celebrate Christmas on December 25th in both the West and the East. Saint Martin of Tours issued an edict in 480 establishing the three-day fasting period leading up to Christmas, beginning on Saint Martin’s Day (November 11). This term was eventually shortened to four weeks by popes who came after him.
It was then decided that this time would begin on December 13, the feast day of Saint Lucy, and that it would be further reduced. Advent was a minor festival in Swedish folklore. As the twentieth century began, the prominence of Advent was greatly diminished in comparison to All Saints’ Day. But things changed in the Roaring Twenties, and the first Sunday of Advent rose to prominence as a major liturgical celebration in the church year.
Theologians in Sweden are at a loss to explain Advent’s meteoric rise in popularity. They hold the view that the common practice of beginning the Christmas season on the first Sunday of Advent is not responsible for its popularity. This pattern evolved as a result of the transition from a system in which people made things for their personal consumption to one in which the market supplied the essentials. As a result, instead of spending time at home getting ready for the holidays, people instead shop for goods at shops, which both commercializes the holidays and makes December more fun.
Lucia
The young Christian female figure known as Saint Lucia lived in Syracuse around the close of the third century and died as a martyr in the year 304. In that era’s Christian society, her cult was like wildfire. In Venice’s San Geremia church, her remains are preserved in a glass casket. Saint Lucia and the Lucia of today both hail from Sweden, but their origin stories are quite different. Saint Nicholas, also known as Sankt Nikolaus in German, was the patron saint of students and possibly had his roots in the worship of Lucia in Sweden.
On December 6th, his feast day, which ushered in the winter festivities, people would exchange gifts. Christ Child (German: Christkindlein or Kindchen Jesus), a girl in a white gown with a wreath on her head decorated with numerous lights, supplanted him after the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century outlawed his worship. Luciper, the devil (or Lussepär in Western Swedish folklore), was a participant in a modest parade that was prepared for this event.
The Christ Child gained popularity in 16th-century Sweden under the Low German name Kinken Jes. On the other hand, the ceremony to commemorate the start of the Christmas fast (Julfastan) was postponed until December 13. Because today was also the feast day of Saint Lucia, the Christ Child was baptized Saint Lucia (Sankta Lucia). Adapted from the German Christ Child festival, the Luciamorgon (Lucia morning) celebration originated in the estates of Västergötland in the 18th century.
On the other hand, Lucifer (Lussepär) was a particularly deadly character in peasant legend, and the name Lucia was associated with him on the night of December 13, the longest night of the year according to the ancient calendar. In honor of him, this evening is known as Lussenatt. Sankta Lucia’s victory against the devil-Lussepär, on the other hand, became the only export product of Swedish folklore in modern times.
The conclusion of the fall semester and the subsequent celebration of its completion became official on December 13 as a result of a 1724 ordinance governing schools and gymnasiums. The custom of honoring Lucia at colleges was brought to widespread popularity in the first part of the nineteenth century by the inhabitants of Västergötland, and it was also adopted by the peasants of western Sweden. In 1927, a newspaper in Stockholm staged a public Lucia parade (Luciatåg) across the city, which led to Lucia’s public popularization. Lucia has been an ingrained tradition throughout Sweden since then.
Julafton
The function of julafton (Christmas Eve) in Catholic times was similar to that of “vigils” before other significant festivals. The Latin word “vigilia” means “watching” and refers to the first nightly Christian service that took place during the persecution of Christians. It is a quite recent and unique occurrence in Scandinavia that julafton has evolved into a time for exchanging gifts (julklappar), feasting (julbord), and dancing around the Christmas tree.
Since the Christmas fast (Julfastan) did not begin until December 24th, the most important celebration was originally on December 25th. Fasting was later outlawed in Protestant Sweden, but eating pig and other meats on the final day of the fast became a Christian virtue, which may have helped convert December 24th into a big feast for Lutherans.
Morning stocking stuffing with little Christmas presents, mostly for children, was a tradition that originated in England and moved to Sweden in the twentieth century. Kalle Ankas Jul, often known as Donald Duck’s Christmas, has been shown since 1960 and is seen by many families in the “television age” before Christmas dinner. After that, Santa Claus comes with presents.
Julafton for Swedish Peasants
All through December, Swedish people are counting down the days until Christmas Eve, when they celebrate Jesus’ birth. Christmas Eve was the most serious night of the year for the majority of peasant society. Farmers concluded their final responsibilities before the holiday, which included cutting and collecting wood for the celebration, cleaning equipment, and organizing the barn, after several days of hard labor. At home, the Christmas table was set, and the floor was strewn with straw, a practice known as julglädjen (Christmas joy) in certain regions. Santa Claus, a hybrid of the German Santa Claus and the Swedish yard gnome, paid a visit to Sweden on this particular day.
Folk Beliefs
Chalking the door tradition.
People would draw a cross on their doors and gates with chalk on Christmas Eve, according to folk beliefs, as a kind of protection against the supernatural. Traditional Christmas celebrations often include making weather predictions. Some believe that a light winter portends a chilly Easter, while others believe that a heavy snowfall in the woods during Christmas week portends a bountiful harvest.
The History of Christmas in Sweden
Everything that is now connected with Christmas in Sweden did not exist even 200 years ago. No julgran, tomten, julklappar, or julbock—no straw goat, Santa Claus, or Christmas trees. The first Swedish picture portraying traditional Christmas festivities, “Småländsk Jul” by Pehr Hörberg, dates back to circa 1800 and shows individuals enjoying porridge and beer. People sat on straw strewn out on the uneven floor to cushion their feet. Almost all of Sweden’s long-held Christmas traditions and practices have emerged in the last 150 years.
The Age of Medieval Christmas
The first Christian communities in Scandinavia emerged around the year 1000, coinciding with the start of Christmas celebrations. The festival’s roots are a mashup of Christian practices and pagan beliefs (Jul). But the secular parts of Scandinavian celebrations are few and fleeting. Even after Martin Luther forbade it, the devotion of saints continued to play an important part in medieval celebrations of holidays.
From the lowest to the highest social echelons, traditions differed. The Swedish jarls and kings, for example, tried to keep their courts and rituals the same as those of the English, the French, and the Germans. In the meantime, city inhabitants took after the practices of German merchants who had settled in Sweden, while the peasants continued with pagan practices that included gatherings of friends, family, and neighbors for feasts and drinks.
Lutheran Observances of Christmas
Despite the shift from Catholicism to Lutheranism in Sweden in the early 16th century, Christmas festivities continued unabated. As Protestant songs were introduced, services underwent a progressive transformation. It was not unusual for pastors to read the gospel in Swedish instead of the previously deleted Latin, since the Swedish language was employed for greater comprehension of God’s message, particularly around Christmas.
A striking departure nonetheless was the elimination of Christmas Eve’s midnight mass (midnattsmässan) in Sweden and in Denmark and Norway; even the Christmas morning service (julotta) was outright forbidden. While the Catholic Church celebrated festivals publicly, Luther argued that family gatherings were more important. Christmas, on the other hand, has preserved its family nature in Scandinavia since ancient times. People in the Middle Ages used to party till morning after enjoying themselves until midnight mass.
The word “julstugor” was coined to describe the shared Christmas experienced by neighbors or friends, particularly by young people around the holiday. Efforts to outlaw similar celebrations in Sweden and Denmark were mostly unsuccessful. The Stockholm magistracy firmly forbade extravagant Christmas parties on December 16, 1721. They justified the restriction by claiming that such parties undermined the sacredness of the occasion and led people to trivialize God’s name and his message.
Despite these suggestions, the public disregarded them, so numerous traditional Swedish Christmas practices such as caroling with a straw goat (julbock), a star (julstjärna), or the Luciatåg processions (Saint Lucy’s Day) featuring the lussebrud (Lucia bride) at the head of the procession and stjärngossar (boys with pointed hats decorated with stars, “star singers”) continue to be practiced today.
The 1700s
Swedish nobility and bourgeoisie started to change their Christmas traditions in the 18th century, particularly in the latter half of the century, to mimic those of their French and German neighbors. They started doing things differently, such as dressing up as Saint Lucy, putting up Christmas trees (julgran), and giving gifts (julpresenter, julklappar).
But 95% of the Swedish population that lives in rural areas kept on celebrating Christmas, just like before. However, a reciprocal process of impact between the two forms of festivity started to take shape. It became increasingly common among the rural people to give cheap and crude presents called “skamgåvor” or “skämtgåvor” (which may mean spiteful or hilarious gifts). The rustic Christmas porridge was also becoming popular among the well-to-do at the same time.
Late 1800s
The majority of the Christmas traditions practiced in modern Sweden originated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the majority of these traditions shaped or imported from Germany. Christmas trees, Santa Claus, holiday window displays, holiday editions of certain newspapers and magazines, rolled-up tablecloths called jullöpare, and holiday greeting cards are all part of the traditional Swedish Christmas repertoire. Imports of mass-produced Christmas decorations (julpynt) and presents from the continent pushed these festivities to evolve.
Also, the Swedes were quick to make friends on the continent and learn about their traditions and customs. Santa Claus, for instance, was completely unknown in mid-nineteenth-century Sweden, where a straw goat (julbock) served the same purpose. The traditional straw goat was replaced by Santa Claus in Sweden via the mediums of chocolate, china, postcards, and books. It was also considered that the rural populace held an inherited, particularly “primitive” culture, which was a major motivating element according to national romanticism.
It was important for the nouveau riche, the established bourgeoisie, and those moving to cities from the countryside to work in factories to preserve their cultural traditions. At the same time, a patriarchal family model evolved, with the father taking center stage as the one to bless the guests, light the Christmas tree candles, and slice the ham for the holiday feast. Simultaneously, traditions passed down from the upper to the lower classes spread like wildfire, and by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Christmas trees were commonplace in urban centers and rural towns alike.
Modern Era
There were not many changes to the Swedish Christmas tradition throughout the twentieth century. Germany supplied the red Bethlehem stars, Advent calendars, and mistletoe, while England supplied the candlesticks. Excessive food abundance and commercialization were commonplace at traditional festivals throughout this century. Conversely, a mindset that prioritized restraint and the redistribution of excess resources to those in need developed.
During the winter solstice, Ukrainians celebrate the Christian festival of Christmas from December 24th until January 6th. As part of their ancient traditions, Ukrainians display a wide range of folk-dramatic inventiveness throughout Christmas. They observe Christmas Day as a public holiday on December 25. The centerpiece of the festivities is the Holy Supper, also known as the “Sviata Vecheria,” which begins with the first star sighting and has twelve courses representing the twelve apostles. Kutia, a puffed wheat, is the main Christmas course. As a piece of home décor, the didukh—a bundle of wheat stalks representing the souls of the ancestors—is displayed in the country.
A 40-day fast, beginning on November 15 and ending on December 25, is a customary practice in Ukraine before Christmas. Saint Apostle Philip’s memorial day falls on the final day of the fast, thus the name “Pylypivka.” A fast is a time of spiritual and bodily cleansing when one refrains from sinful indulgences and practices repentance.
On the eve of Christmas, according to Ukrainian folklore, it was traditional to clean the home, resupply household equipment, and gather all the resources needed for the winter, such as firewood, cloth, wheat, honey, and more. New or clean towels and herbs were introduced to the Christian ritual of decorating icons before Christmas.
Holy Evening, or Sviatvechir (“Chhristmas Eve”), is Wednesday, December 24th in Ukraine, and Koliada (“Christmas Day”) is the night of December 24th and 25th.
The Holy Evening is not complete without the joyous feast in Ukraine. The number of months is used to determine the number of vegetarian meals (“lenten”) cooked for supper, which ranges from 12 in certain parts of Ukraine to 17. The Ukrainian national cuisine is “rich kutia,” which consists of boiling barley or wheat cooked with honey and several plant components. “Rich kutia” originally had a mystical meaning: it was a symbol of the household’s prosperity sent to the deity Veles (a Slavic god) in the hopes of a plentiful crop the next year.
Although the specific sequence in which the twelve courses are served varies throughout areas of Ukraine, kutia is always served first. Traditionally, dinner was served from shared bowls and two bowls were left empty: for the dead and for the absent family members. A prayer is spoken to start the joyous meal. In remembrance of their departed ancestors, the Ukrainians light a Christmas candle on the table. Around the festive table, the whole family congregates, including the youngest members.
Magical rituals with a pagan background could often be performed at Ukrainian Christmas celebrations in order to bring good fortune to the household, protect it from future calamities, and even foretell the destiny of individual family members. It is also common practice to provide a supper for the destitute and lonely on Christmas Eve. Caroling starts after supper and consists of congratulatory and festive songs that wish the hosts success and announce the birth of Christ.
The original Koliada was a paganism Slavic celebration of the new year. The ancestors’ souls, or “didi,” were thought to pay a visit to their surviving kin on this night. A sheaf of grain that has been gathered and brought into the home before supper is termed a “didukh” and is related to the “didi” picture. It was common for both Ukrainian boys and men to sing carols, with the latter representing the “didi” (old men with gray hair). Modern customs have expanded caroling to include girls and women.
Christmas Day
Family members who attended the midnight church service would greet those who stayed at home on Christmas morning, followed by a collective prayer and breakfast. With the unique greeting “Christ is born!” received on Christmas morning, the response is “Let us glorify Him!” Church services with joyful prayers and visits to family are commonplace on this day. Meat and other heavy foods are once again permissible when the fast concludes on December 25.
Christmas carolers sometimes wear elaborate costumes, including a gilded, paper-covered pole with a big star above it. In it, they see the Star of Bethlehem, which announced the arrival of the Messiah. While visiting houses, carolers ask for permission to sing carols. If the hosts give their consent, the carolers will sing songs and put on comedic scenarios, which the homeowners will then reward with money or sweets.
Common Christmas Practices in Ukraine
Caroling
The boys were the primary organizers of Christmas caroling groups in Ukraine. Prior to the event, they would choose a leader or “vataga,” and assign others duties such as “goat,” “shepherd with a scarecrow,” “mikhonosha” (deacon), and more. In certain parts of Ukraine, the “goat” would wear an inside-out sheepskin coat and be adorned with straw horns, a tail, and a bell around its neck.
In other parts of the country, variants existed, with “gypsy,” “doctor,” “Jew,” “death with a scythe,” and other figures appearing. The headman, however, was required to wear a moveable star at all times (Bereza). There are many different kinds of carols sung by Ukrainian girls and boys, as well as by adults. Caroling for cattle is also recognized in Polesia.
Carolers start their performance with celebratory songs and comedic moments after asking permission to carol when they approach a courtyard. In poetic works, the host, hostess, and children are praised and bestowed with well-wishes for health, happiness, and domestic wealth.
Up until Epiphany (January 6), contemporary caroling is still practiced throughout much of Ukraine. Nevertheless, up until around the middle of the past century, carolers would visit houses in Kyiv and the surrounding areas until the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple, which is on February 2.
Vertep: Puppet Theater for the Nativity
Vertep masks.
“Living Vertep” is a popular Christmas show in Ukraine and it’s a unique Christmas tradition in the country. It is an old kind of moveable puppet theater that can perform both secular and religious performances. Since its inception, the Vertep has evolved from a puppet show into a full-fledged street theater, where human actors augment the puppet show’s traditional puppetry and, at some sections, take center stage.
There are two sections to a Vertep performance. Jesus’ birth, as told in the Bible, is the first. Part two is an everyday satire interlude. Sharing the news of Jesus’ birth with people is the primary goal of the Vertep. The Vertep’s crowning ornament, the Christmas star, represents the star that told the wise men of Israel about the birth of Jesus Christ.
The dramatization of the events surrounding Jesus’ birth is known as a Nativity play or Christmas pageant. Christmas, the feast of the Nativity, is the traditional time to conduct it in Ukraine because on Christmas Eve 1223, Saint Francis of Assisi allegedly celebrated Midnight Mass in Greccio in front of a huge nativity scene (crib or creche) constructed by Giovanni Velita, complete with real animals. Preceding the Christmas holiday, a Nativity play is performed by primary schools and Sunday schools, particularly those with a Christian focus, in Ukraine.
Malanka, a Merry Game
Driving a goat in Ukraine according to the drawing of 1883.
On Christmas Eve, January 13 (according to the Julian calendar), the “Malanka” is performed in Ukraine, which is also known as “driving a goat” in the country. The goat’s “death” and “resurrection” dance symbolize the natural cycle of decay and it’s also known as capra (goat dance) in Romanian regions.
In this Ukrainian folk celebration, an older guy in a mask, a Jew, a goat, a gypsy, a fershal, and Malanka herself make the whole team, and they drive a goat from house to house to bring good luck. In Western Ukraine and Romania, people use a dancer in a goat costume instead of a live goat.
Ukrainian Holidays Related to Christmas
Day of Mary – December 26
The Ukrainian church calendar recognizes the second day of Christmas (December 26) as the Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos (title given to Mary), and on that day, “Mary’s Day”, they celebrate in honor of the Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph).
While no special ceremonies are observed on these days, Ukrainians still enjoy singing carols, reenacting the nativity scene, and paying tribute to Mary, the patron saint of their religion.
Generous Evening – December 31
The second Christmas holiday, Generous Evening, takes place on December 31, one week after Christmas. The Christian saint Melania is celebrated on the feast day of Generous Evening. Melanka is another name for this day. As part of the festivities, it is customary to visit people’s homes and deliver New Year’s greetings along with health, wealth, and happiness. Theatrical ensembles “Melanka,” “Vasyl,” and “Mummers” (a Christmas-time house-visiting tradition) are also present at the festivities.
Festivity at Malanka – January 13
Monastyryshche is well-known for its Malanka celebration, which is also well preserved in the Transnistrian district of Ternopil. The origins of the “Malanka” rite are not in the Christian era. Traditionally, the celebrations revolved around special food and drink and house-to-house visits by groups of young men dressed as figures from a pre-Christian folk story. Although the setting for the rites has evolved, many of its components have persisted to this day.
Epiphany in Jordan – January 19
Epiphany, also known as the Blessing of Water, is the third and final celebration after Christmas in Ukraine. The traditional name of the festival, Jordan, or Yordan, meaning “sunbathing water,” suggests that it is connected to the worship of water and Jordan (“Theophany”). As Christianity spread, the name took on a new connotation and, by phonetic association, came to be linked to Jesus Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River. While the Ukrainian Epiphany festival was mostly dormant under Soviet rule, it made a triumphant return in the 1990s.
New Year: Vasily’s Day – February 14
February 14 is celebrated as “Old New Year” or “Vasily’s Day” in Ukraine. Saint Basil the Great Day is another name for this day in the Christian calendar. The family prepares buckwheat porridge first thing in the morning on this day in order to see into the future. They also create dumplings with a variety of fillings.
The whole Ukranian family is tasked with shaping them, and the hostess discreetly places a penny into one of them. Whoever obtains it will have a life of plenty in the years to come. Coins are also turned into pies by them. It is traditional to go sowing in the morning of January 14. On Vasily’s Day, boys of all ages visit each home, welcoming the hosts with poetry and leaving grain on the door.
History of the Christmas Date in Ukraine
85% of Ukrainians are Christians, and 72% of them are Orthodox. Orthodox Christians, Greek Catholics, and other Christians of the Eastern rite commemorated Christmas on January 7 until 2022, when the Julian calendar was in use. Observers of the Gregorian calendar (Western-rite Roman Catholics and Protestants) and the new Julian calendar (certain Orthodox parishes) commemorated December 25.
The question of shifting the celebration to December 25 based on the new Julian and Gregorian calendars has been hotly debated every year in Ukraine since the beginning of the Russo-Ukrainian War in 2014 and December 25 finally became a public holiday in Ukraine in 2017 according to the Gregorian calendar. In 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine on a massive scale, the question of calendar change became even more pressing.
The 20th and 21st centuries are characterized by the practice of celebrating Christmas on January 7 in Ukraine. Assuming the calendar remains unchanged until the 22nd century, this day will be January 8 at that time, compared to January 6 in the 19th. This would allow all Ukrainian Christians to celebrate Christmas on the same day as the majority of Christians worldwide.
In December 2020, Metropolitan Epiphanius, leader of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, said that the church would be prepared to consider such a date shift in Ukraine. All fixed holidays would have to be rescheduled thirteen days in advance if Christmas were to be moved. In December 2020, Patriarch Sviatoslav of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church said that the ECC will deal with this “together with our Orthodox brothers.”
Similar to the Romanian Orthodox Church, around one hundred parishes of the Romanian minority in Ukraine that are members of the Moscow Patriarchate have traditionally observed Christmas on December 25th in accordance with the new Julian calendar.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church officially approved the new Julian calendar on October 18, 2022, allowing Christmas to be celebrated on December 25. At its meeting, the Holy Synod quickly reached the resolution. Full adoption of the Julian calendar was sanctioned by the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church on February 2, 2023.
During its meeting in Lviv-Brukhovychi on February 1-2, 2023, the Hierarchical Synod of the UGCC (Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church) decreed that the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine would begin celebrating Christmas on December 25th and transition to the new style (new Julian calendar) on September 1, 2023. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine switched to the Julian calendar (apart from Easter) starting on September 1, 2023, as per a decision passed in the Hierarchical Council on May 24, 2023, at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky presented a measure to the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) on June 28, 2023, that would do away with the January 7 Christmas holiday. The Verkhovna Rada approved the measure on July 14, 2023.
One of the most important religious and familial festivals in France is Christmas (French: Noël). The cycle of Noël, which starts on December 25th and ends on January 6th (the Feast of Epiphany), consists of 12 days. On December 24th, there will be a church service and a dinner as part of the celebration. The French Christmas customs include nativity displays, exchanging presents and greeting cards, and a Christmas tree. There are Christmas markets in a lot of French cities as well. A large percentage of people who don’t identify as religious also celebrate Christmas, even though it is a religious festival. Family values, not Christian ideas, are what most French people connect with this tradition.
Emperor Constantine did not decide to celebrate Christmas on December 25 until the fourth century and Pope Liberius finally formalized the tradition in 354.
France, like the rest of Europe, has a long tradition of celebrating Christmas. Nevertheless, no similar festivity was observed by early Christians. It was not until the Church began to doubt the date of Christ’s birth—a topic that is absent from the Gospels—in the second century AD. The considered dates ranged from January 6th to April 10th, among others. Emperor Constantine did not decide to celebrate Christmas on December 25 until the fourth century, between the years 330 and 354, and Pope Liberius finally formalized the tradition in 354. It was recorded in the year 354 that Christ was born on December 25th.
This was clearly not an accident of fate; on this very day, Christians were vying for adherents away from Pagan worship. December 25 was a significant occasion in the Roman Empire (of which France was a long-term member) celebrated as the “Birthday of the Invincible Sun” (Dies Natalis Solis Invicti). By syncing the conclusion of the Saturnalia with the birthday of the god Mithras, whose worship was prevalent in Rome at that era, Emperor Aurelian selected and instituted this date. To counter this religion, Christians pointed to Jesus Christ as the “Light of Justice.” As the practice of celebrating Christmas on December 25th became more common, it eventually made its way to Gaul in the 5th century. The date has been entirely identified with Christian tradition since Emperor Theodosius established an edict in 425 mandating the global commemoration of Christ’s birth.
Just as in the rest of Europe, the Christmas tree is a major part of the French holiday season. Christmas tree decoration with evergreen branches is a practice that originated in ancient times and was embraced by Christians in the seventh century. A fir tree decorated with red apples later on, in the 11th century, came to represent the tree of knowledge in Christmas puzzles centered on the idea of paradise. But it was probably in the 16th century in Alsace when the current idea of a Christmas tree first emerged, and it quickly spread throughout Europe. It wasn’t until 1738 that the first Christmas tree was set up at Versailles, France. The ordinary people followed the bourgeoisie and royal court in adopting the custom. Handmade ornaments (such as garlands and gilded nuts) adorned the trees until the mid-nineteenth century, when glass Christmas ornaments—which are still popular today—emerged. Artificial trees were manufactured in the twentieth century.
The current yearly sales in France for real Christmas trees are close to five million. France, namely the Morvan area in Burgundy, grows over one million of them.
Presents for the new year shifted from being given at New Year’s to being given around Christmas, especially to children, by the 19th century. Even though he didn’t exist until the 19th century, the figure known as “Père Noël” (“Father Christmas”) has become inseparably linked with Christmas presents. Saint Nicholas, whose feast is observed on December 6th and who is revered as the patron saint of children, served as an inspiration to him. Tradition has it that during the nights of December 5 and 6, he visits every country, stopping to fill the shoes left by children by the fireplace with presents. But only the nice and obedient children get presents; the bad kids get coal and a visit from Saint Nicholas’s “dark” sidekick, Père Fouettard. This custom is still alive in several parts of northeastern France, especially in Lorraine.
The French did not hold Père Noël in high esteem until the 20th century. But in the 1950s, Père Noël became the main representation of Christmas, impacted by the rising stardom of the American Santa Claus (whose ancestor was actually Saint Nicholas). Père Noël was branded as a Pagan and heretic by the Catholic Church, which vehemently opposed his arrival, accusing him of leading people astray from the holiday’s genuine essence. Even Père Noël was publicly burned in front of the municipal church in Dijon in 1951. Some Catholic households still teach their children that the Baby Jesus, not Père Noël, gives presents on Christmas Day.
Although most people wait until Christmas Eve to exchange presents, some adults do so the night before the holiday meal. The Christmas tree is a common hiding place for children’s presents. Père Noël wasn’t the only Christmas figure in France until he became famous nationwide. There was Père Chalande in the east, especially in Savoy; Barbassionné in Normandy; and Père Janvier in Burgundy. Aunt Ari, a kind fairy, was believed to be the one who bestowed Christmas presents in Franche-Comté.
Yule Log cake (“Bûche de Noël”, a tender chocolate sponge cake)
Brédele (biscuits or small cakes, famous in Alsace)
Thirteen desserts (common in Provence)
Cougnou (bread baked during Christmas, popular in the north and east of France)
Shellfish (common in Brittany)
Locally made snails accompanied by the Burgundian wines
On the evening of December 24th or 25th, upon the family’s return from midnight Christmas Mass, a sumptuous celebratory feast, called a “réveillon,” was traditionally held. Even though hardly everyone goes to Mass anymore, the habit of having a big family meal has not altered. Most French people place a much higher value on the Christmas feast than the equivalent New Year’s feast, often known as “réveillon.” Oysters, smoked salmon, roasted turkey with chestnuts, and foie gras are usual table fare. Chocolate and the classic “Yule log” are the two most beloved sweets.
The menu changes depending on the location of France since each region has its own culinary customs. Various shaped and flavorful cookies called “brédele” are famous sweet desserts in Alsace. Commonly served in Provence Christmas feasts are the so-called “thirteen desserts,” which represent the twelve apostles around Jesus. A sweet bread with chocolate pieces or raisins called “cougnou” is popular in the north and east of France. Its form is like a swaddled baby Jesus. Meals using a variety of shellfish are commonplace on Brittany Christmas menus. It is traditional to accompany the best Burgundian wines with a dish of locally made snails cooked in a particular manner while visiting Burgundy.
Just as in many other European nations, the so-called Christmas markets (French: Marché de Noël) are organized in France during the latter months of the year (November to December). The practice had a renaissance in the early 20th and early 21st centuries, while its origins are in the 14th and 15th centuries.
Typical vendors at these markets offer handcrafted goods, regional specialties, holiday decorations, and souvenirs from their quaint wooden chalets. There are usually a lot of lights and music to set the mood for Christmas, and you may even discover a temporary ice rink or Ferris wheel at these markets. As a common feature of Christmas markets, street concerts and entertainment are often arranged.
The Strasbourg Christkindelsmärik, France’s most famous and oldest Christmas market, dates all the way back to the 16th century. From 1992 onwards, Strasbourg has been home to a multitude of Christmas festivities, including the historical market, all unified under the banner of “Strasbourg— Capital of Christmas.” The Alsace area, and Provence in particular, is known for its many Christmas markets. Paris has a number of Christmas markets every year. Some of these venues include the Tuileries Garden, the plaza in front of La Défense, the area around Notre Dame Cathedral and City Hall, and others. In 2017, the Champs-Élysées Christmas market was definitively dissolved by the municipal council.
The Christmas Nativity scene, also known as the crèche de Noël in French, is another long-standing French custom. According to legend, the Italian mystic and friar Francis of Assisi (1181–1226) was the one who initially had the villagers act out the Nativity scene in the church at Greccio, portraying the roles of Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus, the magi, and other figures from the Gospel. The practice of constructing Nativity scenes, which originally had live performers but later included clay, wax, and wooden figurines, eventually made its way to southern France and Italy.
Naples was the birthplace of the tradition of making Nativity scenes in private residences as well as public churches in the 17th century. Despite the prohibition of Christmas Mass and Nativity displays by the anticlerical laws of the French Revolution, this practice eventually became widespread in France. For the purpose of simple concealment, believers started crafting miniature versions of the Nativity scenes they saw in churches out of bread dough or papier-mâché and began replicating them at home.
Production of such figurines became commonplace in Provence, where this new ritual became especially popular. Their name evolved into “santons” which means “little saints.” Over time, new representations of biblical figures appeared alongside the old, with santons increasingly representing common Provencal people who came to honor the baby Jesus. The French continue to adore these artisanal, colorful figurines. You may find special santon festivals in several places in Provence, and even outside of the area, at almost every Christmas market.
These days, most people choose to display Nativity scenes at churches, whereas “home” Nativity displays are becoming more rare. Even French cities used to display Nativity displays on their streets until quite recently. But this practice has recently become the subject of debate, with some arguing that religious symbols like Nativity displays violate secular state ideals. Those in favor of seeing Nativity scenes as cultural customs that celebrate France’s history rather than religious symbols make a compelling case for this approach.
Asian Christmas rituals include elements of Western and native cultures. Midnight Mass, Christmas cribs, and gift exchanges are widespread in Christian-prevalent Asian nations like India and the Philippines. Chinese and Japanese Christmases, on the other hand, are less about religion and more about commerce. Christmas is observed on January 7th in Kazakhstan, according to the Julian calendar, since the country has an Orthodox Christian community. The universality of celebration, charity, and family get-togethers is still widespread in most of the Asian countries listed below.
-> 26million Christians, Bada Din, Holy Banana, Biryanis, and Kheer
Millions in India celebrate Christmas, even though Hinduism is the dominant religion. Because Christianity is the third-largest religion in India with 26 million followers which is 2.3% of the population. The festival, which goes by the names “Bada Din” and “Big Day,” is observed with Indian and Western customs.
Attending Midnight Mass with poinsettia flowers and candles is also significant in India. Families share a meal of biryanis and households decorate their homes with clay lamps that burn oil and holy banana or mango leaves. Kheer, a rice pudding, is a popular traditional dish. Duck curry with appams is a typical Christmas dinner in Kerala, while Portuguese-influenced foods like sausage pulao, sorpotel, and xacuti are popular in Goa.
-> 44 million Christians, Holy Birth Festival, Tree of Light, Red Pagodas
The Christian minority in China (44 million Chinese Christians) celebrates Christmas as the Holy Birth Festival, or Sheng Dan Jieh. Their Christmas trees, which they refer to as a Tree of Light, are covered with paper lanterns, flowers, and red paper chains. They also display posters and evergreen plants throughout their houses. To decorate their homes, they make paper lanterns in the shape of red pagodas and stick them to the windows.
Various names for Santa Claus include “Old Christmas Man” (Sheng Dan Lao Ren) or “Nice Old Father” (Lan Khoong-Khoong). Chinese youngsters hang muslin stockings for Santa on Christmas Eve. Cities in China such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong put up various Christmas decorations. Like on Valentine’s Day, young Chinese couples actually exchange presents with each other at Christmas festivities. In fact, Chinese people celebrate Christmas by going out to a restaurant.
-> 29 million Christians, Christmas Decorations in Religious Buildings
Despite the country’s Muslim majority, Christians in Indonesia celebrate Christmas in a variety of ways.
One unusual custom is the use of Christmas trees and lights in religious buildings.
Going to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day church services to see plays and nativity scenes.
Giving and receiving gifts, particularly among younger parties.
Baking regional specialties include pineapple tarts (Nastar) and cheese biscuits (Kastengel), which have Dutch origins.
Honoring local customs such as Yogyakarta’s Wayang Kulit performance, Jakarta’s Rabo-Rabo, Bali’s Ngenjot and Penjor, and North Sumatra’s Marbinda.
4. Turkey
-> 250,000 Christians, Noel Baba, Street Decorations and Fireworks
Since Muslims make up the vast majority of Turkey’s population, Christmas is not a very popular holiday in the “Asia Minor”. However, this has been changing in the recent decade due to the significant rise in the country’s secular youth population, especially in western Turkey. In main cities like Izmir, Istanbul, and Ankara, the nation gets into the holiday mood in the days leading up to New Year’s Eve, decked up in rich lights, decorations, and roadside displays.
Turkey does not actually celebrate Christmas but the New Year and they do it with Christmas decorations. “Noel Baba” (Father Noel), Turkey’s version of Santa Claus, is also not believed to deliver presents on New Year’s Eve since he isn’t widely affiliated with Christmas but the country put up extensive fireworks and street decorations to honor the New Year’s coming.
-> 2 million Christians and Romantic KFC Christmas Meals
Only a tiny fraction of Japanese people observe Christmas as a religious holiday; the rest celebrate it as a secular occasion to convey “love”. As a long-standing custom since 1974, eating fried chicken from KFC on Christmas Day is one of Japan’s distinctive customs. Because in Japan, Christmas is another Valentine’s Day.
One other thing that people do on Christmas is eat Christmas cake, which is a sponge cake filled with cream and strawberries. Couples go on strolls to see the Christmas lights and have a romantic Christmas dinner. The perception of Christmas is widely different than in the West.
6. South Korea
-> 14 million Christians, a Romantic Holiday, Ice Cream and Sponge Cakes
As a national holiday, Christmas is commemorated in South Korea by decorating churches and holding services. But most Koreans still don’t celebrate Christmas as a religious time. Couples go on romantic trips and shops are decked up in colorful decorations. The traditional Christmas fare is on the decline, but ice cream cakes and sponge cakes still dot the landscape in South Korea. Similarly in China and Japan, this is a romantic day for young couples.
-> 8,5 million Christians, “Ông già Noel,” Christmas Chicken Soap
Despite Vietnam’s Buddhist majority, it celebrates Christmas as one of its four major religious days. Christianity was first introduced to Vietnam in the early 16th century and 9% of the country’s population is Christian today. On Christmas Eve, people of all faiths and none come together to celebrate the day. The churches and public areas are decorated with nativity scenes and other typical lightworks. Christian families prepare meals that include chicken soup, turkey, and Christmas pudding, and Santa Claus is called Ông già Noel. Despite not being a recognized public holiday, Christmas is still widely celebrated in this land.
8. Philippines
-> 95 million Christians (84%), “Ber” Months, Christmas in September
The third largest Roman-Catholic country in the world, the “ber” months are the beginning of Christmas in the Philippines, and festivities begin as early as September, which is unique. Making traditional lanterns, listening to songs in stores, and stocking up on presents are ways that Christians and non-Christians in the Philippines commemorate this period.
Around $570 is how much the typical Filipino family spends on Christmas. On Noche Buena, the eve of Christmas, families enjoy traditional Filipino feasts that include lechon (roast pig), ham, rice cakes, fruit salad, and bibingka. In the early hours of Christmas morning, children anticipate Santa Claus’s arrival. Observing religious services, giving presents, and putting up nativity displays are customs. On January 6, or the first Sunday in January, the Feast of the Three Kings is celebrated, and it concludes Christmas in the Philippines.
Orthodox Christians in Turkmenistan are the only ones who celebrate Christmas in the traditional sense, and this is because Muslims make up the vast majority of Turkmenistan’s population. Observance of a 40-day Advent fast, during which time one should not consume anything that comes from an animal, culminates with a Christmas dinner on the evening of January 6. Orthodox Turkmenistan celebrates Christmas with a beautiful tree. The twelve Orthodox churches in the nation’s capital and adjacent cities including Mary, Turkmenabat, Turkmenbashi, Balkanabat, Tejen, and Bayramaly all participate in the festive services.
10. Thailand
-> 850,000 Christians (1.2%), Majorly Buddhist, Chinese New Year > Christmas
The majority Buddhist population of Thailand means that Christmas is not a tradition. Nonetheless, Bangkok has been experiencing a renewed sense of festive spirit in recent years. Downtown areas are dressed up for the holidays, and roadways are lit up with lights. Although Christmas is not officially celebrated, there are still certain Christmas-related activities that are limited to schools. Santa Claus still visits bigger shopping malls or family-friendly events. The special Christmas dinner is usually turkey with all the fixings, and they also have rice and curry. Instead, countless New Year’s festivities, including the Chinese New Year, as well as parties and fireworks, make up Thailand’s holiday season.
11. Russia
Ded Moroz, Russian Santa Claus.
-> 68 million Christians (47.5%), “Sochelnik,” Ded Moroz, Snegurochka, Orthodox
Just like Turkey, Russia is a transcontinental country, with the majority of its lands situated in North Asia. According to their Julian calendar, Christmas in Russia is commemorated on January 7th. Known as “Sochelnik,” the celebrations start on Christmas Eve. Since New Year’s Day was more important in Soviet times, few people observed the festival, and since it was reinstituted as a holiday after the fall of the Soviet Union, Christmas is still a more subdued event than the New Year’s Eve parties in the country. Holiday traditions include feasting on traditional fare such as roast pig, goose, pirog, and pelmeni. This occasion is characterized by a solemn ambiance and a figure known as “Ded Moroz” (Grandfather Frost) gives gifts to youngsters with his female helper named Snegurochka.
12. Afghanistan
-> 17,000 Christians, Public Holiday, Nearly Not Observed
Due to the Muslim majority, Christmas is not a well-observed day in Afghanistan. But ironically the government officially recognizes Christmas as a public holiday, and a few thousand Christians are living there who celebrate the occasion. The “Haj” Eid, a Muslim festival akin to the Eid after Ramadan, is celebrated by Afghans in the days before Christmas.
There are still Christmas trees at stores and hotels in Kabul, the capital of the country, and the city is decorated with lights and ornaments. Despite the lack of typical Christmas fare, Afghans love their tea and drink it all day long, usually with some kind of sweet treats like toffee, almonds, or pastries. Christmas is still a subtle, low-key celebration.
13. Myanmar
-> 4,4 million Christians, Buddhist Majority, Christmas is a Low-Key Feast
Due to the Buddhist majority, Christmas is not well-observed in Myanmar. But the government actually recognizes Christmas as a public holiday. Traditional religious observances and family reunions are the focal points in Myanmar and parts of the nation, like Kayin State, celebrate Christmas by going door-to-door singing songs and decorating Christmas trees with ornaments. On December 1st, Christmas caroling starts, and on December 2nd, people assemble at homes to pray and give gifts, with children actually receiving generous presents. However, the emphasis in Myanmar is on other cultural and religious celebrations throughout the year; thus, Christmas is more subtle.
14. Uzbekistan
-> 3,1 million Orthodox Christians, Soviet Atheism, a Welcoming Spirit
People in Uzbekistan get into the holiday spirit by adorning Christmas trees and listening to traditional music. 9% of the population is Orthodox Christian which celebrates the holiday on January 7. Many Uzbeks celebrate the day with a mix of traditional and contemporary traditions. Despite the country’s largely Muslim culture, the Uzbek people’s welcoming spirit shines through in their Christmas celebrations since they are the most numerous Turkic people in Central Asia and there is a historical influence of Soviet atheism.
15. Malaysia
-> 3 million Christians, “Open Houses,” a Welcoming Day
Christians in Malaysia celebrate Christmas, which is also a national holiday. Church services, gift exchanges, and feasts with loved ones are common occasions. One typical habit is having an “open house,” where visitors are welcomed with traditional Malaysian hospitality and served dishes for Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali, and Christmas. Even though most Christians commemorate Christmas seriously, the country’s cultural diversity is on full display during other holidays, such as Hari Kebangsaan (National Day), which is observed by different ethnicities. Christmas celebrations are also lively and welcoming.
16. Nepal
-> 512,000 Christians, Christmas is a Public Holiday, 81% are Hindu
A fusion of Western and native traditions characterizes Nepalese Christmas. The local Christian community (%1.8 of the population) commemorates this officially recognized holiday along with other secular Nepalese groups. But 81% of the population is still Hindu and Christmas traditions are not widespread.
Church services, gift exchanges, tree decorations, and special Christmas feasts are still there as expected, and Western delicacies like turkey, pumpkin pie, and Christmas pudding are served with traditional Nepalese cuisine like roasted chicken and vegetable salad. Candles and diyos (oil lamps) are common, and Christmas markets in Kathmandu sell local specialties.
17. Bangladesh
-> 0.30% (700,000 Christians), Borodin, Sweet Rice Cakes and Coconut
The small Christian minority in Bangladesh celebrates Christmas, which is called “Borodin” or “Bara Din,” even though the majority of the population is Muslim. Singing, dancing, and reunions of family members; decorating houses; and putting up Christmas trees, lights, and decorations are the main traditions and practices. Many Bangladeshi cities are decorated with artificial snow since snow is not possible in the country.
Christmas is gaining traction, but women still sit on the opposite side of the aisle from men in Bengali churches. In the churches, you will hear the popular Bangladesh Christmas song “Aaj Shuvo Borodin bhai, aaj Shuvo Borodin,” which translates to “Today is Happy Borodin, friend or brother; today is Happy Borodin.” A traditional Christmas feast known as Preeri-bhoj is cooked at the church after Christmas services. Sweet rice cakes and coconut are two of the traditional Bengali foods.
18. Mongolia
-> 1.3% (42,900 Christians), New Year Celebrations, New Year Trees
Due to the country’s Buddhist majority, Christmas is generally not observed. Christians make up a tiny percentage and the 2010 National Census found around 42,900 of them, or 1.3% of the total. Evening services or celebration concerts are held by Mongolian Christian churches. Christmas is not a legal holiday in Mongolia, but the New Year is a major festival and Christmas is not celebrated to the same extent.
Mongolians call their trees “New Year’s Tree,” which looks a lot like a Christmas tree. Dinners, parties, and gatherings in homes, nightclubs, and bars are common elements of Mongolian New Year festivities. They welcome the new year with a week of festivities leading up to December 31, while ignoring Christmas as a separate day.
Kyrgyzstan has a mostly Muslim population and a history of Soviet atheism; therefore Christmas isn’t really celebrated there. But a New Year’s tree, like a Christmas tree, is traditional in the country, as is welcoming “Father Frost” (a Santa Claus-like character in a blue dress).
20. Kazakhstan
-> 17% (3.2 million Christians), “Ayaz Ata”, “Kar Kız”
Christmas is celebrated on January 7th by the Christian population in Kazakhstan, especially by those who are Orthodox. As part of the festivities, Christians fast from certain foods for forty days leading up to Christmas. The first star seen in the sky on January 6th marks the conclusion of Advent and the beginning of the traditional Christmas supper. But Christmas isn’t as much of a deal as New Year’s Eve; thus, the Kazakhs celebrate the latter with great joy, complete with a New Year tree, Father Frost (Ayaz Ata in Kazakh), and the Snow Maiden (Kar Kız), who brings gifts to kids.
21. Azerbaijan
-> 365,000 Christians (4%), “Shakhta Babah,” New Year’s Eve, Shekerbura
Azerbaijan does not recognize Christmas as a national holiday. Azerbaijanis celebrate Novruz Bayram and New Year’s Eve. The small percentage of the population that celebrates Christmas does so because it is a long-established custom in their families. Some people do it because they find the celebration lovely and like the symbolic meanings it has. The local Santa Claus is Shakhta Babah, and Azerbaijani families put up lights and decorations for New Year’s Eve. Shekerbura is a traditional Azerbaijani pastry that includes almonds, and it is one of the foods enjoyed at Christmas.
22. Brunei
-> 38,500 Christians (8.7%), Christmas is Banned, 440,000 Residents
Due to the country’s stringent Islamic rules, Brunei does not allow public Christmas festivities. Public Christmas festivities are subject to regulations put forth by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, which has stressed that Muslims’ religion might be jeopardized by too many celebratory events. Public Christmas festivities are also forbidden, and the removal of Christmas decorations from public spaces is part of the ban. On the other hand, locals and tourists who aren’t Muslims are free to celebrate the day, albeit privately. There are 441,000 residents living in this country.
On December 25th, Canadians celebrate one of the country’s most important holidays—Christmas. Canadian Christmas traditions are a blend of French, British, American, German, Norwegian, Ukrainian, and first nation (indigenous) customs. In homes, workplaces, and public locations, the Christmas tree and Nativity scenes are the major symbols of Christmas. Réveillon, gift-giving, and the exchange of Christmas cards are all popular Canadian traditions, along with British dessert staples like mincemeat tarts and Christmas plum puddings. Some Canadian cities also host festive markets and parades.
Families in Canada often get together to bake cookies for Christmas. For Christmas, every family makes cookies according to their own special recipe, which they then trade with one another. Cheese straws, gingerbread people and homes, and other similar treats are popular Christmas additions.
Toronto Santa Claus Parade: With a history dating back to 1905, this procession is among the biggest of its kind in North America. Held annually on the third Sunday of November.
Nighttime Santa Parade: When a daytime Santa Parade is not enough, you can enjoy the event again at night in Kingston, Ontario. Almost a 2-mile-long procession of floats makes its way down Princess Street in downtown Kingston.
Reverse Santa Claus Parade: During Christmas in Old-Aylmer, floats line Principale Street in a twist on the traditional parade: floats will stay parked as cars drive by.
Ontarian Rotary Annual Santa ClausParade: In the midst of the season, this parade in Ontario unites towns and families and many Santa Clauses, together with some national acts and prominent bands, walk in this festival.
The Importance of Christmas in Canada
Christmas in Canada incorporates elements of American, British, and French traditions. It has grown into the country’s most important festival since the 1900s. For Canadians, many celebrations that occur on the winter solstice have more to do with the date that Christmas was selected than with the birth of Jesus himself. Even though 30% of Canadians are Catholics, Christmas is almost completely a secular day.
For instance, “Christmas holidays” are referred to as “winter festivals” in public schools, a manifestation of the growing secularization of the nation brought about by the inflow of non-Christians. While Christians and Jews are both legally permitted to take time off for religious holidays like Christmas and Easter, members of other faiths do not have the same level of official recognition.
Along with the traditional Christmas celebrations, Canadians love participating in outdoor winter activities like skiing, skating, and tobogganing during Christmas, which is pretty unique.
Presents and Christmas Tree: It’s the typical. Before Santa Claus arrives on Christmas Eve, kids fill their stockings with treats and hang them over the fireplace mantle, though not every house has a fireplace these days.
A Festive Supper: Canada loves to cook a special dinner on Christmas. Roast turkey, seasonal veggies, mashed potatoes, and gravy are typical examples. Decadent fruit cakes are a beloved English Christmas treat.
Crackers: Holiday crackers are tubes that include a paper hat, a toy, and a slip of paper with jokes and when you open the package, you’ll hear a popping sound.
Boxing Day: It is observed on the 26th day following Christmas. Many Canadians, much like Americans on Black Friday, get out of bed early and face the cold to wait in huge lines at malls in search of discounts.
Santa Parades: In November, you may see Santa Claus Parades in most big cities in Canada, including on his sleigh.
Festivals of Lights: Light festivals in Canada at Christmas are more prevalent than in the majority of other countries. They include the Winter Festival of Lights at Niagara Falls, the Cavalcade of Lights in Toronto, the Festival of Lights in Vancouver at the Van Dusen Botanical Garden, and the Festival of Lights in Airdrie.
The Influence of Various Nations
Ukrainian
There are ~1.4 million Ukrainian Canadians, comprising ~4% of the total population.
There is a significant Ukrainian diaspora in Canada, and they are the largest Slavic group. Ukrainians brought the January 7th Christmas celebration to Canada, following their Julian calendar. However, they recently began to celebrate Christmas on December 25th to protest the Russian Orthodox Church. They also introduced traditional Ukrainian meals for Christmas, such as kutia pudding. They also display their Christmas music and dance.
Norwegian
There are ~465,000 Norwegian Canadians in the country.
Canadian Christmas festivities are now also called “Yuletide” to further secularize the festival, which comes from the Norse pagan celebration of Yule, which occurs in the winter. Canadians are also able to follow some Norwegian Christmas culinary customs due to immigrants from Norway.
French
Around 30% of Canada is French.
On the nights leading up to Christmas and New Year’s, a lengthy Christmas feast called a Réveillon is served. The term “réveil” (meaning “waking”) is used since guests remain up until midnight or later. The Christmas tree, or sapin de Noël, is the centerpiece of Christmas decorations. Canadians hear popular French songs like “Minuit, chrétiens,” “Guillo, Pran Ton Tamborin!”, and “Vive le vent” (“Jingle Bells”).
Canadians also call Santa Claus by his French name “Père Noël,” and traditional French-Canadian holiday foods include tourtière (a meat pie), ragoût de pattes de cochon (pork hock stew), bûche de Noël (Yule log cake) and tarte au sucre (sugar pie). The Midnight Mass, or Messe de Minuit, is also significant, and it is followed by the Réveillon mentioned above.
There are 6.3 million people with English origins in Canada.
The traditional roast Christmas dinner of turkey or chicken is an English custom, much like in the United States. This also includes the wrapped Christmas cracker tubes. The “Boxing Day” (Black Friday in Canada) originated in Great Britain. Decorating Christmas trees and exchanging gifts are also British customs but they are still called sapin de Noël. Christmas plum puddings and mincemeat tarts are also English, including the fruit cake.
Irish
There are 4,6 million Irish (~12% of the population) in Canada.
Irish immigrants have transferred their Christmas traditions to the country, including their hot whiskeys, spiced beefs, and the finest Irish cheese board (cashel blue, dubliner cheddar, and carrigaline).
Swimming on a cold Christmas day is also a big tradition in Ireland. “Polar Bear Swims” is used to describe the New Year’s Day traditions observed in many Canadian towns. Since its inception in 1920, the Polar Bear Swim Club in Vancouver, British Columbia, has hosted an annual event that attracts 1,000 to 2,000 swimmers; in 2000, a record ~2,130 people dove into English Bay.
Folk music in Canada has a lot to say about the Irish artists who lived in the provinces of New Brunswick, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland. Ireland is the birthplace of the custom of placing a holly ring on the door in Canada as a symbol of Christmas.
There are around 4 million Scottish-Canadians in the country (~10% of the population).
Scottish homes are adorned with holy wreaths, lit candles, and tinsel and the Scots who emigrated to Canada carried with them this custom. Scottish fire festivals are popular, including events like Stonehaven’s Fireballs and Edinburgh’s Viking torchlight procession. It is possible to witness these customs in Canada.
Scottish folklore has it that if you want to keep the elves out of your home, kindle a fire in the fireplace. Many Canadians also believe that placing mistletoe sprigs on entrances and ceilings may ward off ghosts and other bad spirits.
German
There are ~3,5 million Germans in Canada (~9% of the population).
Immigrants from Germany helped make the custom of decorating a Christmas tree more popular in Canada in the 1800s. The German Christmas market is a German holiday tradition in Canada. The Germans also created the first tinsel and glass ornaments for Christmas trees.
Canadian Connection to Rudolph
There is a strong Canadian link to the renowned Christmas icon Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Paul Soles of Toronto provided the voice for the Rankin/Bass (company) stop-motion work in its initial December 6, 1964 broadcast. In 1939, RCA recorded Canadian performers as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’s initial vocals, while the narrative was penned by Robert May, a Jewish copywriter from Chicago. Canada has a long tradition of producing holiday-themed works, beginning with Rudolph and continuing with A Christmas Story and An American Christmas Carol.
Christmas Tree and Turkey Consumption in Canada
Every year, Canadians buy around 3 million whole turkeys for Christmas, accounting for 40% of total sales each year. Regarding Christmas tree farms, there are around 1900 to 2,000 farms in Canada that generate around $90 to $100 million for Christmas trees. Canada sells over 2 million fresh-cut Christmas trees worldwide, amounting to around $50 million every year.
Throughout the Arab world, many people celebrate Christmas, whether religiously or not. While Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha more than any other Arab feast, Christians make up a sizeable minority in many Arab nations, including Egypt, Lebanon, and Morocco. It was predicted that there are 10–15 million Arab Christians residing in the Middle East. Depending on local culture and traditions, these countries celebrate Christmas in different ways. Some non-Christian Arabs, particularly those residing in the US, celebrate Christmas in a secular manner as a result of Western cultural influences and the atmosphere.
Since Christianity originated in the Arab world, they still celebrate this holiday despite its Christian origins, with each country bringing its own customs. For instance, Christians make up around 45% of Lebanon’s population, and Muslims and Christians adorn their homes, streets, and stores. Three distinct Christian traditions observe Christmas at various periods in Palestine, with each centering on Bethlehem as the location of the celebration.
Despite the years of fighting, the Syrian capital of Damascus still has a Christmas carnival with thousands of people attending music, dancing, and the nation’s tallest Christmas tree (98 feet) in Abbasid Square. Christmas has been a public holiday in Iraq since 2008 and Christian households congregate in the backyard to light garden fires and recite psalms on Christmas Eve. Christmas is still significant for Arabs due to their cultural variety.
Lebanon: Houses, streets, malls, and businesses in Lebanon deck up their holiday trees with lights and decorations as Christians and Muslims join the holiday side by side.
Egypt: Egyptian Copts observe a 40-day fast from meat, poultry, and dairy items before Christmas (January 7). Guests bring kahk, a traditional shortbread, to share with their hosts on Christmas Day as a token of their appreciation for the host’s hospitality.
Jordan: A sticky Christmas cake with nuts and dried fruits spiked with alcohol is a traditional Jordanian holiday dessert.
Morocco: As a result of the influence of the French and Spanish empires, Moroccan Christmas includes aspects of French culture. The French Christmas dessert, Buche de Noel, is very popular.
Palestine: All Christian denominations are represented in Palestine. Protestants and Catholics celebrate Christmas Eve on December 24th, while Greek Orthodox commemorate it on January 6th and Armenian Orthodox on January 17th. A Palestinian Christmas feast includes roast lamb or turkey, nougat and sesame seed desserts, and semolina pancakes filled with almonds.
Damascus: On Christmas Eve, Damascus, Syria’s capital city, hosts a carnival where people sing carols and dance. Churches and residences can display nativity scenes, while streets, homes, and public areas feature typical garlands and lights, sometimes resembling a European city.
Iraq: There are 150,000 to 300,000 Catholics living in Iraq. As a distinctive Iraqi custom, the burning of dried thorns is a significant part of Christmas rituals. The thorns are burned as a symbol of Christ’s light and the world’s hope.
Religion: Muslims embrace Jesus more as a prophet than the son of God.
Culture: Christmas is generally not a public holiday in nations with a Muslim majority for this reason.
Respect: Muslims do not commemorate the holiday but according to their beliefs, Muhammad once let a Christian group do their ceremonies in his mosque. So, they must recognize a certain freedom for Christians to celebrate Christmas.
Muslims in Non-Muslim Nations: Muslims residing in non-Muslim nations are known to ask their children not to participate in school Christmas parties.
Arabs’ View of Santa Claus
The practice of gift-giving is important in both Christianity and Islam, but Santa Claus is not a traditional figure in Islamic culture. To emphasize the importance of gift-giving around Christmas, children in certain Arab countries, like Syria, are informed that the youngest camel, who took the three wise men to see Jesus, brings them their gifts. Instead of Santa Claus and his reindeer, there is a Christmas camel. On the other hand, publicly celebrating Christmas is forbidden in Saudi Arabia but the immigrant workers celebrate it covertly.
However, Santa Claus is still making appearances in Marrakech, Morocco, to pose for photos with tourists. On the day of Ashura, a festival honoring generosity, giving, and aiding the poor, the Moroccan version of Santa Claus is called Baba Achour. Santa Claus is called Baba Noël in Lebanon, and he is part of a few Catholic customs, like attending a midnight mass service. The Arab World does not have a strong Santa Claus tradition, but the custom of exchanging gifts is there.
The Christmas Meals in Arabs
Christmas dinners can differ from one Arab nation to another.
Jordan: Jordanian dishes such as mansaf (a beef and rice dish prepared with jameed cheese) and wara’ dawali (stuffed vine leaves) are served at the Christmas feast. A classic Christmas turkey sits among Middle Eastern salads such as tabbouleh and fattoush, as well as mezze dishes such as baba ghannouj and hummus. Kunafa and Arabic sweet treats like maamoul and basbousa are among the desserts.
Palestine: Their Christmas feasts aren’t complete without qedreh, a stew made of rice, chickpeas, and lamb cooked in a wood-fired oven. Mezze platters and mihshe malfouf, a stuffing of cabbage leaves with rice and minced meat are also popular. Kunafa nabulsiya, maamoul, and ghraybeh, a typical buttery biscuit, are the dessert options.
Egypt: The traditional Egyptian Christmas meal, fattah, is a combination of rice, bread, boiled lamb or beef, and a vinegar and garlic dressing. It is a popular dish for the holiday. Traditional pastries and molokhiyah (a soup made with leafy greens) are among the other dishes. Maamoul and zalabiya, a beloved Christmas delicacy, are the dessert options.
