Here are your tasks:
- What countries share similar public holidays? Why?
Christmas Around The World: How Different Countries Celebrate The
Festive Season
But just how do children and their parents celebrate Christmas in other countries
across the globe?
More than two
billion people celebrate Christmas globally every year, so we've put together a
fun guide to some of the unusual ways in which other nationalities mark the
occasion.
2. Germany
Tradition:
Santa's spooky helper
As a part of celebrations in Germany as well as Austria and some parts of
Switzerland, St Nikolaus (the saint on whom many countries base Santa Claus) is
accompanied by a scary devil-like character as a warning to children no to be
bad. In France
there's a similar figure called La Pere Fouettard.
3. Italy
Tradition: Presents on a
broomstick
A good witch called La Befana delivers children's presents on January 6th using a broomstick
rather than a sleigh. But if you've been bad – expect lumps of coal.
4. Netherlands
Tradition:
Sinterklaas and Black Peter
In Holland
Santa Claus is called Sinterklaas. He doesn't live at the North Pole, but in
sunny Spain
and arrives by steamboat with a helper called Black Peter rather than an elf.
5. Scandinavia
Tradition:
Porridge instead of cookies and carrots
Across the region a gnome like character - called Tomte in Sweden and Nisse in Norway - is believed to protect
barns and brings presents too. Every Christmas the children leave a bowl of
porridge out for him.
6. Spain Tradition: A different sort of Christmas log
In the region of Catalonia
traditional Nativity scenes get a cheeky addition in the form of a character
called the 'caganer'. And there's no polite way to say this – the figure is
squatting as if going to the toilet. Sometimes they are shepherds, but can even
be footballers or politicians.
7. Australia Tradition: Rudolph the red nosed Kangaroo
Of course Down Under Christmas falls in summer. There tradition has it that
Father Christmas swaps his reindeer for 'six white boomers' or kangaroos. It's
also traditional to enjoy a barbecue on the beach on the big day.
8. India Tradition: Decorating mango trees
For Christians on the sub-continent fir trees aren't common. Instead mango
trees are often decorated instead and mango leaves used to brighten up homes.
9. Greenland Tradition: Rotting bird feast
The hardy folk in the Arctic Circle tuck into
some unusual dishes. Kiviak is decomposed bird that has been wrapped in
sealskin and buried under a stone for several months. They also feast on
mattak, slices of raw whale skin.
10. Ukraine Tradition: Spider webs on the tree
It may sound more like a Halloween tradition than a Christmas one but
Ukrainians decorate their Christmas trees with spider webs. Legend says that a
magic spider once visited a poor family at Christmas and turned the webs in
their home into gold and silver.
SEE ALSO:
11. Bulgaria
Tradition: Stick
patting
One of the Christmas traditions is koleduvane involving boys singing carols
outside neighbours' houses then patting them on the back with decorated sticks.
12. Greece
Tradition: Basil
and burning shoes
Basil is wrapped around a cross and used to sprinkle holy water around the
house to ward off mischief making goblins called killantzaroi. It's also
traditional to burn old shoes for good luck in the following year.
13. Venezuela
Tradition:
Roller-skating to Church
In the capital, Caracas,
roads are closed off so that locals can blade to morning mass – they even tie
pieces of string and dangle them out of the window so, if they oversleep,
passers-by will be able to tug on the string and wake them up.
14. Brazil
Tradition:
Presents in shoes
Brazilians celebrate the legend that animals gain the power of speech on
Christmas night while children here get their presents in their shoes rather
than stockings from Papa Noel.
15. Jamaica
Tradition: John
Canoe parade
Christmas time is marked by the 'John Canoe' parade, which dates back to the
times of slavery, where people dress up in wacky masks and costumes. Curried
goat is often on the menu for Christmas dinner.
16. Mexico
Tradition:
Carving radishes
In the run up to Christmas time the Festival Of The Radishes sees farming folk
carve the vegetables into human figures, including those from nativity scenes.
17. Czech Republic
Tradition: The
golden pig
Czechs are taught not to eat anything on Christmas Eve until a special dinner
is served so that they can try and see a mystical 'golden pig' appear. Another
tradition sees a girl putting a cherry twig in water on December 4th. If it
blossoms before Christmas Eve the girl will marry the following year.
18. Poland
Tradition: Iron
under the table
The main meal is on Christmas Eve. Poles place a piece of iron under the
Christmas dinner table to make sure everyone has strong legs. The table legs
have to be strong too – there are traditionally 12 courses, two of which are
carp.
19. Iceland
Tradition: 13
Santas
There are 13 Santas in Iceland.
These Yule lads, more troll like than our traditional Father Christmas,
traditionally come down from the mountain one by one during the days of the
festive period leaving presents or rotten potatoes depending on the child's
behaviour. They have names like Door Sniffer and Meat Hook.
Which ones share public holidays most closely with Canada? Why?
The United States' public holidays is close Canada.
geography position, culture background, political factor.
- Tell a partner and publish your findings
- Vocabulary: Holiday Traditions
