Teaching Your Children Christmas Customs Around the World
Take a new slant on Christmas this year and teach your children some of the traditional holiday customs from different countries.
Every Christmas, it seems as if we all do the same thing. Buy presents. Eat food. Buy more presents. Put up the Christmas tree. Eat more food. Hang the stockings and put out the cookies. There are many customs in our country that help mark the Christmas season. But it's always interesting to learn about the activities that people in other countries do to celebrate Christmas, and there are unique ways in which you can teach your children about the various customs. You can Google a country to look at statistics such as population, climate, primary industries, and popular social customs. You can have a "customs night" in your home, using some of the information here, so your family can imagine what it's like to celebrate the holiday in another country.
Belgium
A large festival held on the 5th day of December celebrates the arrival of Sinterklaas, the patron saint of children and sailors. The celebration of is an entirely different holiday from Christmas. Sinterklass arrives on a Saturday in mid-November on a steamboat. He wears a long red cape, a traditional white bishop's robe, and holds a long gold-colored staff with a fancy curled top. In his hand he carries a big book that tells which children have been naughty and which have been nice. He traditionally rides through the streets on Amerigo, his gray horse, while being cheered on by singing children.
During the weeks before his arrival, treats of mandarin oranges, chocolate and marizipan candies are enjoyed. On the night before Sinterklaas' arrival, children put their shoes next to the fireplace. In the shoes, they place a carrot or hay for Amerigo with a small bowl of water nearby. In the morning, the children awake to find presents in their shoes left by Sinterklaas.
Of course, on Christmas Day, Saint Nicholas brings gifts, as well. These presents are left in stockings hung by the fireplace or under the Christmas tree. Breakfast on Christmas traditionally starts out with "cougnou" which is a type of sweet bread. The bread is shaped into a figure resembling the baby Jesus.
Brazil
Many of the customs Brazilians celebrate are similar to ours. Santa Claus is Papai Noel. There is a definite distinction between the wealthy and the poor and how each celebrates the holiday. Everyone has a Christmas tree. However, a poor person's tree will be an old tree branch or made of plastic. Poor people usually decorate their trees with cotton balls to resemble snow. Traditionally a Christmas meal will consist of various meats (turkey, ham, chicken or pork), rice, fruits and beer. Poorer people will usually have beans and rice and will also drink beer or sodas. Brigadeiro, a dessert made of condensed milk and chocolate is enjoyed, as well.
Finland
In Finland, "Father Christmas" is the name for Santa Claus and he supposedly lives in Korvatunturi in the northern part of Finland. People all over the world send letters to Father Christmas asking for special gifts.
On Christmas Eve, a meal of fruit soup and porridge is served either for breakfast or lunch. Spruce trees are decorated. Usually in the middle of the day, a Christmas message is broadcast on radio and tv and given by the mayor of Turku. Later that evening, everyone partakes in a traditional Finnish meal, which includes casseroles, liver pate, salmon, mushroom salad, and a dish called "rosolli." Rosolli is similar to our potato salad but also has carrots, apples and beets in it, as well. Desserts consist of spice cakes, cookies, and gingerbreads. These are usually eaten with milk or coffee during the Christmas message in the afternoon or before going to the church.
Christmas Day brings presents! Children find their presents under the tree or sometimes in big sacks near the front door. Usually, people spend Christmas Day enjoying coffee and sweets, playing games with family, or playing with the gifts they've received. Some families will visit graveyards the night of Christmas and place a candle on the grave of a family member. Twinkling candles make the cemeteries very beautiful.
Romania
Christmas carols are an important part of celebrating Christmas for Romanians. Usually on the first day of December, carolers will walk through the towns carrying cardboard stars that are decorated with various Bible scenes. The leader carries a special foil-covered wooden star with ribbons and bells. At each home the carolers go to, they receive fruits, nuts, breads and sometimes money.
On Christmas Eve, it is traditional to eat stuffed cabbage for dinner. It is believed that this custom came about because more time was needed to decorate and organize for Christmas. Stuffed cabbages could last for up to four days. So, preparing in advance would allow more time for other things. Presents are opened on Christmas Eve, as well. Children do not leave cookies or milk out for "Mos Craciun" (Santa Claus.) On Christmas Day, families attend church and then eat a huge multi-course dinner consisting of pork sausages, rice, beets, stuffed cabbage, and wine. Cozonaci is the traditional dessert.
Certainly there are other countries that you and your child can explore to discover various Christmas customs. In addition to using your own traditions this year, make it a round-the-world multicultural Christmas!
Belgium
A large festival held on the 5th day of December celebrates the arrival of Sinterklaas, the patron saint of children and sailors. The celebration of is an entirely different holiday from Christmas. Sinterklass arrives on a Saturday in mid-November on a steamboat. He wears a long red cape, a traditional white bishop's robe, and holds a long gold-colored staff with a fancy curled top. In his hand he carries a big book that tells which children have been naughty and which have been nice. He traditionally rides through the streets on Amerigo, his gray horse, while being cheered on by singing children.
During the weeks before his arrival, treats of mandarin oranges, chocolate and marizipan candies are enjoyed. On the night before Sinterklaas' arrival, children put their shoes next to the fireplace. In the shoes, they place a carrot or hay for Amerigo with a small bowl of water nearby. In the morning, the children awake to find presents in their shoes left by Sinterklaas.
Of course, on Christmas Day, Saint Nicholas brings gifts, as well. These presents are left in stockings hung by the fireplace or under the Christmas tree. Breakfast on Christmas traditionally starts out with "cougnou" which is a type of sweet bread. The bread is shaped into a figure resembling the baby Jesus.
Brazil
Many of the customs Brazilians celebrate are similar to ours. Santa Claus is Papai Noel. There is a definite distinction between the wealthy and the poor and how each celebrates the holiday. Everyone has a Christmas tree. However, a poor person's tree will be an old tree branch or made of plastic. Poor people usually decorate their trees with cotton balls to resemble snow. Traditionally a Christmas meal will consist of various meats (turkey, ham, chicken or pork), rice, fruits and beer. Poorer people will usually have beans and rice and will also drink beer or sodas. Brigadeiro, a dessert made of condensed milk and chocolate is enjoyed, as well.
Finland
In Finland, "Father Christmas" is the name for Santa Claus and he supposedly lives in Korvatunturi in the northern part of Finland. People all over the world send letters to Father Christmas asking for special gifts.
On Christmas Eve, a meal of fruit soup and porridge is served either for breakfast or lunch. Spruce trees are decorated. Usually in the middle of the day, a Christmas message is broadcast on radio and tv and given by the mayor of Turku. Later that evening, everyone partakes in a traditional Finnish meal, which includes casseroles, liver pate, salmon, mushroom salad, and a dish called "rosolli." Rosolli is similar to our potato salad but also has carrots, apples and beets in it, as well. Desserts consist of spice cakes, cookies, and gingerbreads. These are usually eaten with milk or coffee during the Christmas message in the afternoon or before going to the church.
Christmas Day brings presents! Children find their presents under the tree or sometimes in big sacks near the front door. Usually, people spend Christmas Day enjoying coffee and sweets, playing games with family, or playing with the gifts they've received. Some families will visit graveyards the night of Christmas and place a candle on the grave of a family member. Twinkling candles make the cemeteries very beautiful.
Romania
Christmas carols are an important part of celebrating Christmas for Romanians. Usually on the first day of December, carolers will walk through the towns carrying cardboard stars that are decorated with various Bible scenes. The leader carries a special foil-covered wooden star with ribbons and bells. At each home the carolers go to, they receive fruits, nuts, breads and sometimes money.
On Christmas Eve, it is traditional to eat stuffed cabbage for dinner. It is believed that this custom came about because more time was needed to decorate and organize for Christmas. Stuffed cabbages could last for up to four days. So, preparing in advance would allow more time for other things. Presents are opened on Christmas Eve, as well. Children do not leave cookies or milk out for "Mos Craciun" (Santa Claus.) On Christmas Day, families attend church and then eat a huge multi-course dinner consisting of pork sausages, rice, beets, stuffed cabbage, and wine. Cozonaci is the traditional dessert.
Certainly there are other countries that you and your child can explore to discover various Christmas customs. In addition to using your own traditions this year, make it a round-the-world multicultural Christmas!
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