For This Day - Christmas Around the World - Vol. 9, Issue 3

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December, 2021

Vol. 9, Issue 3

FOR THIS DAY CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD

Learn about Christmas in countries around the world from CDA FM families who have experienced the celebration first hand!

CHRISTMAS IN GHANA BY THE OPPONG-BAWUAH FAMILY

In Ghana, traditional Christmas observances revolve around large family gatherings, feasts, singing and church services. Jesus Christ is referred to in one of the most widely spoken Ghanaian dialects as “Yesu Christo”. Christmas decorations blossom in churches, urban cities and some homes. Christmas carols are played on the radio and television and sung in churches and on the streets. People flock to urban cities shopping for Christmas gifts for their loved ones. On Christmas Eve, families gather for a special traditional meal, and after dinner families attend Christmas Eve church services which include singing of Christmas carols and nativity plays. Friends and family exchange gifts and gather to watch Christmas processions and fireworks. Other people celebrate Christmas Eve with fireworks and parties. On Christmas day, Christian families start their day by going to church. After service is over children are given candies and sweet treats by Father Christmas (Santa). After this families gather for Christmas day meals, visit close friends and exchange gifts with families and friends. Coram Deo Academy

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CHRISTMAS IN BELGIUM BY MRS. OLANDER

In mid-November, Saint Nicholas (if you live in the French area) or Sinterklaas (if you live in the Flemish area) arrives by steamboat in the port of Antwerp. To prepare for his arrival on December 6, children place their shoes in front of the fireplace. They leave tangerines, chocolate, or biscuits (cookies) for Saint Nicholas and a carrot or hay for the horse. Then, in the night, Saint Nicholas arrives on the roof on his horse with his assistant, Zwarte Piet. Presents are left in and around the shoes. Children are told if they are bad, they will be left a bunch of wooden sticks. The visit of Saint Nicholas is a separate occasion to Christmas. Christmas is a more religious festival, focused on the birth of Christ.

CHRISTMAS IN POLAND BY THE RAKOWSKI FAMILY

Wigilia Polska In Poland, Christmas Eve is a day of fasting, no food until the first star appears that night. However, it is also a very busy and festive day; today we decorate the Christmas tree, that in many households stays up until Lent, cook a large meal for family to gather that evening, and make any last-minute trips to the Christmas Market in the medieval town square. After decorating the tree with traditional hand painted ornaments, we prepare for the evening meal. In Poland there must be 12 dishes for Wigilia dinner, but none of them can be meat. Mushroom soup, potato perogies, Polish carp, and kutia are a few of the dishes you might find. The table is set with straw under the tablecloth as a symbol of the manger. One seat is reserved for an unexpected visitor. After dinner we open presents, sing kolędy, and spend time together. Near midnight the whole family heads to church for midnight mass. Jarmark Bożonarodzeniowy Wrocław One of the most joyful things to do for Christmas in Poland is to visit the Christmas Market in the medieval town center of Wrocław. The market is one of the largest in Europe. People from Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, UK, and all over Poland come to visit the market. There are vendors with beautiful handmade decorations, candies, and any imaginable holiday item in booths around the square. Street vendors with wonderful Polish street food, like bigos and smoked sheep cheese, are sprinkled amongst the booths. Lights and street performers fill the center with a festive cheer. The theaters are holding holiday performance and the Pan Tadeusz Museum has a shadow show in the windows of a Victorian Christmas party. Eventually we make our way to the top of the windmill to sip hot chocolate and look out across the center at the people and lights. Everywhere you look are gnomes, the mascot of Wroclaw, a city situated on the Oder river since the 10th Century. It is a wonderful night of holiday cheer, family, and a truly Polish experience.

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CHRISTMAS IN NEW ZEALAND BY THE YOUNGER FAMILY

In New Zealand, when the weather warms up, excitement kicks in. Summer means Christmas, sun bathing, swimming at the lake or beach and new summer toys. Santa Claus takes center stage, but Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus. Our decorations are similar to America, but no outside lights on the house – probably because the sun doesn’t set until 10pm. Presents are placed under a pine tree, fake or real, to be opened on Christmas morning. Old British traditions remain like Christmas crackers and fruitcake. It is common for Santa to have flip-flops, shorts and a summer top. Although some families still do a traditional roast turkey dinner, many families grill out or have a beachside picnic. Our traditional dessert is pavlova. A friendly game of cricket may follow in the back yard or on the beach. After Christmas day, we have another national holiday called Boxing Day.

CHRISTMAS IN PANAMA BY MRS. ZARCONE

Feliz Navidad! Christmas in Panama is all about El Niño Jesus, the Holy Family and like here sharing in family time. People begin decorating right after Mother’s Day! What?! Yes, Mother’s Day in Panama is December 8th. The focal point is the nativity scene, everyone puts great effort in making them, which they place indoors or on their front porch. These nativities have twinkling lights, green grass, mountains, buildings, and they go all out with these. The spirit of Navidad is everywhere as pesebres (nativities) are created and quickly become wonderful roadside displays of reflection and love. Groups of children dress up like shepherds and they go every evening to houses with nativity scenes singing ‘villancicos’ (Christmas carols). On Christmas Eve, after attending church, extended families get together. They eat Christmas dinner only at midnight, after they have wished each other Merry Christmas. Then the late-night visits begin to neighbor houses at the sound of fireworks (yes!! fireworks on Christmas day can be heard from every place). The next day gifts will be found either next to the Nativity, under the Christmas tree or on the child’s bed.

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CHRISTMAS IN SOUTH KOREA BY THE MORRIS FAMILY

South Korea has a large Christian population for an Asian country. While 46% of the population has no religious affiliation, Christianity is the highest affiliation at 30%, and Buddhism is next at 23%. Because of this, Christmas is a very important holiday for many South Koreans. Moreover, in much the same way that Americans celebrate, Koreans celebrate. There is a focus on Christ’s birth. The Korean word for Christ is “Yesu”. It is a time to celebrate and spend time with family and eat a large meal just like in America. There is a commercial side of Christmas in South Korea that includes Santa as well. For the Morris family, we have adopted the Korean tradition for children which comes after Christmas to ring in the new year. Please see the attached photo. It is a time when the children dress in traditional Korean clothing; the girls dresses are called “hanboks.” The children bow with their heads all the way to the ground almost prostrate while they ask for the annual blessing from the household elders and heads. The grandparents and parents all give their specific blessing for the coming the year and also give some cash as a gift. It’s a wonderful tradition that we have maintained in our home.

CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA BY THE BELL FAMILY

Australian Christmas, HOT! Christmas falls during the Aussie summer holidays. A melting pot for immigrants, religion in Australia is diversified. Consequently, each home combines cultural customs, religious activities with global practices to make traditions that become part of one’s heritage and are passed down for generations. Carols by Candlelight is a tradition embraced across the country with thousands attending a sing-a-long evening in their neighbourhood community or larger metropolitan area. Christmas Day is at home and/or on the beach, IT’S HOT! Santa “Down Under” is usually a surfing Santa with a Santa hat, board shorts and surfboard in tow. Christmas lunch begins with Christmas crackers with a toy, paper crown and joke hidden inside. The menu includes turkey, ham, seafood platters or a chook(chicken) all served cold. IT’S REALLY HOT! And don’t forget the Pav(Pavlova) for dessert. Afterwards, it’s a dip in the ocean/pool and a game of cricket.

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CHRISTMAS IN UKRAINE BY THE ROGERS FAMILY

Our son Ruslan was born in Ukraine and lived there until he was 15-years old. We were able to spend one Christmas there during the adoption process. Most of our time was spent in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, where the streets were decorated like any big American city with lights and ornaments and Christmas trees. In smaller towns, like Gorodnya where Ruslan lived, the spirit of Christmas was evident in the people we met, but the decorations were humbler and understated. In Kiev we met the Ukrainian version of Santa Claus, which is Did Moroz (Father Frost) or Svyatyy Mykolay (Saint Nicholas). Most Ukrainian Christians are members of the Eastern Orthodox Church, and they celebrate Christmas on January 7th. However, when we were in Ukraine on December 24th, we were able to find a Christian Evangelical Church that held a beautiful Christmas Eve candlelight service that included heart-felt singing of traditional Christmas hymns like Away in the Manger and Silent Night. After the service we ate a traditional Ukrainian menu of perogis, borscht, kolach (Christmas bread), cabbage rolls and olivier salad.

CHRISTMAS IN MEXICO BY SENORA GARNER

Christmas, in most Spanish-speaking countries, is traditionally celebrated the entire month! Since I was a child, we have incorporated some traditions from my Mexican roots. First, we all have Nativity scenes at our homes; some are fancy. These are called ‘Nacimientos.’ Which represents the birth of Jesus. Secondly, we are all prominent singers, we go Christmas caroling on Christmas Eve, this is called ‘villancicos.’ My grandpa, Jose, would make us sing all three verses in English AND Spanish; as kids, we were like WHY? Food was a big deal! We ate tamales, buñuelos, pozole or menudo. As we ate, the laughter of everyone echoed all around the house (there were too many of us to sit at the table). No longer are we the kids, but now the adults continuing the traditions. We cherish all these traditions and memories passed down from generation to generation. Feliz Navidad.

CLICK THE IMAGE to the left to hear Senora Garner’s family sing during their Christmas gathering.

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CHRISTMAS IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO BY THE CONNELL FAMILY

Trinidad and Tobago is a Caribbean island located off the coast of Venezuela, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. Christmas in Trinidad and Tobago s a special time on the island, just as it is in other parts of the world. What makes Christmas here so special and unique, is the music and the food. If you are in Trinidad and Tobago during Christmas, you may be serenaded with a special kind of music known as parang. It is a captivating blend of traditional music from Venezuela and traditional music from Trinidad. On the weeks leading up to Christmas, Trinidadians and Tobagonians can be found singing and dancing in their neighborhoods, accompanied by the sounds of steel drums, pots, pans, and any other makeshift noisemaker by informal parang groups. Formal parang groups often create music with maracas, box bass, and different types of guitars. According to freeservers.com, parang groups keep singing outside of a home until the family inside comes out to join in on the festivities. The parties continue on throughout the Christmas season, at work, at school, in the community, and more. Christmas dinner in Trinidad and Tobago is delicious. Beef patties (pastels), peas and rice, black cake (fruit cake soaked in rum), and turkey are some of the yummy things that hit the palate. Popular drinks to pair with a Christmas dinner might include sorrel and ginger beer. It’s a heartwarming experience that is accentuated by a wonderfully warm climate. Try Christmas in Trinidad and Tobago!

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For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 Coram Deo Academy

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