It is that time of year again where the festivities are upon us. Christmas and New Year’s are wonderful times that encourage family gatherings, great food, and unique traditions. Here in the UK, we are certainly impartial to a roast dinner with turkey for Christmas and participate in the giving and opening of presents. New Year’s Eve is just as magical with a parade of fireworks in London and family get togethers all seeing the new year in. Let us find out what kind of Christmas and New Year’s traditions exist from around the world:
Spain
In Spain, the Christmas period starts on the 8th of December which is the day of immaculate conception where everyone gets a day off. This period is celebrated by locals setting up their Tió de Nadal’s which are small logs propped up on two legs and smiling faces painted on the front. They get given food and get covered with blankets to keep warm. When Christmas day approaches, the Tió de Nadal’s give everyone gifts.
Whilst for New Year’s, tradition has it that 12 grapes have to be eaten one by one until the striking of midnight on the 31st of December. If you manage this, you are guaranteed a year of prosperity.
Poland
In Wiglia (Christmas Eve), families have a 12 meal course which symbolises good luck for the next 12 months. The main meal is not eaten until the first star appears. They are not allowed consume meat and alcohol in this period. The meal consists of carp and Barszcz (beetroot soup). No one is allowed to open their presents unless the Christmas Eve supper has finished.
Many Poles having a carp’s scale in their wallet as it’s supposed to bring prosperity and wealth for the upcoming year. Also opening all the doors and windows is a way of welcoming the New Year and saying goodbye to the old one.
Ethiopia
Genna (Christmas) is celebrated on the 7th of January. The concept of Santa does not exist here, instead elders wear a sombre black robe and offer homemade bread called Defo Dabo to children. The advent before Genna consists of a diet free from meat and dairy. The fast is broken on Genna with a feast including chicken, beef and lamb. A few days before Genna, you’ll spot people transporting live sheep and chicken in buses across the streets.
For New Year, a meal of chicken stew is enjoyed with a honey based wine and Ethiopian coffee. Families gather and begin building a bonfire and light as nightfall approaches. Then celebrations occur until sunrise.
Mexico
Las Posadas is the start of the Mexican Christmas holidays. Accompanied by the singing of Villancicos (carols), Luces de Belen (Bethlehem lights), and star shaped Pinatas filled with candy. A Mexican Christmas dinner will often begin with oxtail soup with beans and hot chilli, followed by roast turkey and salad or Pozole (slow cooked Mexican stew). Dessert is a Bunelo, a perfectly crispy fried tortilla covered in cinnamon and sugar.
Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve), is a lively celebration in Mexico where families and friends gather to say goodbye to the old year. The festivities include eating, drinking, dancing and participating in traditional customs for good luck.
Japan
Japan’s traditional Christmas dinner is actually a KFC as Christmas is seen as a fairly new tradition here. Tokyo’s Disneyland also hosts an annual Christmas parade filled with fun, festivities and Father Christmas! Disneyland is opened from the second week of November to Christmas day. Floats, decorations, and parades go on in this period.
Japanese people welcome the New Year by praying and wishing for prosperity, safety and good health at a shrine or temple. The act of visiting a shrine or temple for the first time in a year usually occurs on the first, second or third day of the new year.
Australia
Christmas is in the summer holidays, so they are accustomed to a warm Christmas. At Cocoa Beach you can find many Santa’s surfing as people like to visit the beach and ride the waves in a Santa outfit. For dinner they like to eat roast turkey, seafood, salad and barbecues.
Australians celebrate the New Year with fireworks throughout the country. Firework displays are launched off bridges, such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, jetties along the beaches and riverbanks, with the lights of the fireworks sparkling off the water.
There we have it! Not an exhaustive list but certainly some interesting traditions and rituals from around the world. If you are lucky enough to be spending Christmas abroad, hope you have fun delving into their traditions. If you are spending it in the UK then enjoy all the festivities, food, friends and family you are with!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Article by: Halima Ahcene Djaballah