Did you catch Part I of the ABCs of Christmas celebrations from around the world. We covered countries like Australia, Belize, Ecuador, Estonia, India, Japan and others.
In Part II, we continue to look at how other countries like Nigeria, Scotland and USA celebrate Christmas and New Years and what special traditions and customs they have that sets them apart.
Mexico – ‘Feliz Navidad’
To represent a beloved tradition across the country of Mexico, the Christmas tree features a La Lotería theme. Similar to bingo, La Lotería is a game of chance that uses images on decks of cards for players to fill out their tabla, or playing board. The first to get four pictures in a row on their tabla shouts ¡Lotería! (Lottery!) or ¡Buenas! (Good!) and is the winner. The tree is also decorated with papel picado (perforated paper), a traditional Mexican folk art that is handmade with colored tissue paper using small chisels.
Native America
Many Native American tribes became Christianized when Europeans arrived in America, so some traditions are similar to European-American customs. Several tribes create handmade nativity scenes with ornately crafted cribs to hold the baby Jesus. Instead of camels and donkeys, these nativity scenes feature American wolves, foxes and bears. This was one of the most beautiful trees in the entire exhibit and paid tribute to many different tribes with handcrafted ornaments, such as birch teepees and canoes, dream catchers, moccasins, dolls, stuffed buffalos and horses, and wooden tomahawks.
Netherlands – ‘Vrolijk Kerstmis’
On the evening of December 5, Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas) sets sail from Spain. Dutch children set out wooden shoes, a symbol of the Netherlands, filled with sugar, carrots and hay for Sinterklaas’ horse. If they are good, they receive shoes full of sweets. The oldest wooden shoes worn by the Dutch date back to 1280 and are made of alder wood. Hand-painted tiles and round ornaments—rendered in traditional Delft Blue pottery, a custom dating back to the 16th century—depicting typical Dutch landscapes also adorn typical Christmas trees. The windmills and tulips symbolize the rich landscape of the Netherlands.
Nigeria – ‘Barka dà Kirsìmatì’, ‘E ku odun, e ku iye’dun,’ or ‘Jabbama be salla Kirismati’
Adorned with traditional holiday decorations, this tree represents the Nigerian community as a whole highlighting many of their different tribal origin groups. You’ll see beautiful handmade ornament featuring Nigerian lace fabric and wax cloth, as well as garland created from black-eyed peas colored deep-red and orange to symbolize the colors of jewelry worn at Yoruba and Benin celebrations. Additional decorations highlight the rich family customs shared by all Nigerian people during the holiday season.
Norway – ‘God Jul’
Several elven characters visit Norwegians during the holiday season. Julenisse, a short elf with red hat and beard, much like Santa, brings gifts for good children. Fjonisse lives in the barn and cares for animals. He is a trickster though, and families must give him Christmas Eve porridge to keep him at bay. Norway’s Christmas trees features brightly painted Norwegian Rosemaled painted ornaments, traditional folk art, heart baskets, candles, yarn nisse and Norwegian flags.
Philippines – ‘Maligayang Pasko’
Christmas in the Philippines is celebrated as early as September and lasts through January. The country has earned the distinction of celebrating the world’s longest Christmas season. All of the decorations on the tree are from the Philippines, and most have been crafted by hand. Many are made with pineapple fiber, beautifully colored capiz shells, bamboo and leaves from tropical trees. The ornamental stars replicate a paról, or a star-shaped lantern made with bamboo and paper that adorn homes throughout the country. This star represents the Star of Bethlehem that guided the Three Kings to the manger, in addition to the victory of light over darkness, much like the Filipinos’ hope and goodwill during the holiday season.
Poland – ‘Wesolych Świat’
In Poland, Christmas Eve is known as Wigilia (vigil). Early in the evening, family members share the oplatek, or Christmas wafer. Poles wait for the first star to appear in the sky before sitting down to dinner. The meatless meal may be either a 12-course feast to symbolize the 12 apostles, or seven dishes representing the seven sacraments. With full stomachs, families share the oplatek with friends and neighbors. Livestock and pets are included in the sharing; after all, animals witnessed Christ’s birth in the manger as well.
Romania – ‘Crăciun Fericit’
Romanian families decorate the Christmas tree while enjoying food and songs. Guests and carolers are welcomed to people’s homes for a three-day period, starting on the evening of December 24. This celebration dates back approximately 2,000 years and honors the nativity of Jesus. Romania’s trees are decorated with a variety of handmade ornaments, like glass Christmas trees, puppets dressed in national costumes, walnuts, apples, and ornaments in the national colors of red, yellow and blue. A big star is used as the tree topper, which represents the star from the holy night.
Russia – ‘Vesyoloye Rozhdyestvo’
Russia is a diverse country, and people celebrate many winter holidays like Orthodox Christmas and New Year’s Day. Among the ornaments are important symbols such as Grandfather Frost on his troika pulled by three horses and the beautiful Snowmaiden.
Scotland – ‘Nollaig Chridheil’
During the 16th century, the Reformation banned Christmas in Scotland, and for some 500 years, Scots celebrated New Year’s Day (Hogmanay) instead. However, several Christmas superstitions survived. Bees are believed to leave their hives on Christmas morning. Fires are kept burning on Christmas to keep evil spirits at bay. The morning after Christmas, Scots may look at the fire’s ashes for a footprint. If there is a footprint and it faces the door, a death in the family is foretold; if the footprint faces into the room, a stranger will visit. On the Scottish tree are traditional symbols of Scottish culture. Tartan is the traditional woven fabric of the country, while other decorations feature golf, Highland dance, bagpipes, Highland coos (cows), sheep and more.
Serbia – ‘Mir Bozji, Hristos se Rodi’
Serbian holiday traditions begin with St. Nicholas Day on December 19, when children receive gifts in their shoes set out the night before. Wheat grains are planted in a dish, and however much it has grown by Christmas represents the bounty that is to come the coming year. Christmas is celebrated on January 7, and Serbians distribute straw around the home to represent where Christ was born. A holy icon of the nativity is displayed, and nuts are tossed in four corners of a room to symbolize the sign of the cross. Instead of a Christmas tree, families have a badnjak (oak branch) still bearing its leaves and decorated with colorful ribbons and fruit. Hot plum brandy is traditionally served, and an ornately decorated sweet bread (Božičnjak) is the holiday table centerpiece. A coin is baked into another Christmas bread (Česnica), and whoever finds it is granted joy.
Slovenia – ‘Vesel Božić’
On St. Nicholas Day, the saint visits children with mischievous elves, parklji, who scare children who misbehaved during the year. Slovenian families create small pine-and-ribbon Advent wreaths. Each week leading up to Christmas, one blue or white candle is lit. They also bake potica, a traditional raisin nut bread enjoyed especially during the holidays. The ornaments on this tree are handmade, featuring traditional Slovenian motifs like silver and gold pine cones; clusters of walnuts; wooden heart-snapped ornaments painted with popular Slovenian landmarks, poets and writers; glass red apples; corn husk dolls; and cotton pieces strategically placed to represent snow.
Sweden – ‘God Jul’
Historically, Swedes would make ornaments out of straw since it was the most readily available material. Candles were used in times before electric lighting, and apples were a special treat during a northern climate’s winter. The woven heart baskets held sweet treats, such as pepparkakor (heart-shaped ginger cookies). All of these items would stay on the tree until January 13, 20 days after Christmas. On this day children hold a party, called julgransplundering, and get to eat all of the goodies left on the tree. The yarn tomtar elves are representative of the household elf Tomten, who watches over the house all year long.
Switzerland – ‘Fröhliche Weihnachten’ (German), ‘Joyeux Noël’ (French), ‘Buon Natale’ (Italian)
Switzerland is a diverse country, with its population speaking German, French, Italian and Romansh. Customs and decorations may vary from one region to the next. Many Swiss trees feature handmade ornaments. The tree is also decorated on Christmas Eve, which is a joyful family celebration. Traditional décor on this Swiss tree includes hand-blown glass ornaments from Swiss shop Glasi Hergiswil, candles, tinsel and lights. Wrapped gifts are placed underneath the tree, as is a crèche featuring little figurines from the Nativity scene.
Thailand – ‘Suk San Wan Christmas’
Less than five percent of Thai people are Christian, so Christmas is not a common celebration. However, with Western influence, children may dress in Santa costumes, sing, dance and play holiday party games. The Thai New Year (Songkran) in April is a more widely celebrated holiday. Thai culture is represented on this tree with classical dance symbols, Thai silk and crafts, musical instruments, and fruits.
Ukraine – ‘Chrystos Razhdayetsya’
The silver spiders that hang on the tree represent a Ukrainian folk tale. A poor family had no decorations for their Christmas tree, so while the children were sleeping, spiders spun webs of silver around its branches. When the family awoke Christmas morning, the tree was sparkling with silver webs. The spider web ornaments are all handmade using traditional Ukrainian embroidery patterns. To this day, a spider web found in the home on Christmas is a sign of good luck.
United States of America – ‘Merry Christmas’
Most of the ornaments on the tree have been handmade by members of the Friends of the USA Tree, who reside in Illinois, Michigan, Texas and New Hampshire. The eagle tree-topper was made to look as though it is landing on the tree, and it was constructed from 125 pieces of wood from four different types of trees. The large stockings are hand-quilted. All the star boxes are decorated with scenes depicting Christmas memories and some honor the United States military. You’ll also see assorted wood, fabric and lace ornaments, round ornaments with sequins and beads, clay ornaments made to look like cookies, and crocheted roses and snowflakes. The snowflakes are all different sizes, and no two patterns are alike.
Wales – ‘Nadolig Llawen’
For many years, the Welsh decorated their homes with boughs of holly for protection and good luck. Birds’ nests and wrens in ribboned cages on the tree represent the holiday custom of “the hunting and displaying the wren.” This is when the smallest of birds becomes the king at Christmastime and is carried from house to house in a decorated cage by groups visiting their neighbors for holiday refreshments. The hobby horse, Mari Lwyd (a gray mare), is carried by a man disguised as the horse under a white sheet. Other Welsh symbols on the tree include Welsh love spoons, the national daffodil flower, a triple string harp, musical notes, the national symbol of the red dragon, Welsh dolls and more.
It is incredible how beautiful and diverse the world is in terms of customs, traditions and heritage. The same thing can be seen, experienced and celebrated in so many ways – each unique and special in its own way. Global diversity is important in every walk of life and the mission of CulturallyOurs is to showcase that diversity – be it food, travel, art, culture or lifestyle.
Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for the new year from all of us here at CulturallyOurs!
{Original article and event details at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry can be found here.}
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