Christmas Around the World by ELIZABETH RICE
An enormous, floating Christmas tree adorns the waterfront near, Rio de Janeiro, the capital of Brazil. ”Christmas tree 2015 at the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon at Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil” by alobos life is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Christmas is a holiday both unique and familiar to many. Cultures all across the globe share similar traditions, especially with the influx of world travel and immigration, while maintaining local customs at the same time. For many Christian countries, the Advent season is a prevalent lead up to the Christmas celebration, while the Epiphany (January 6) is often the more important holiday. Perhaps the most common custom across the board is spending the holiday with friends and family. In A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens highlights many of the Christmas customs in Victorian England. How do they compare to 23
jects from churches carried through the street for the community to see. Many participate in an all night vigil on Christmas Eve, singing Ethiopia and praying. On Christmas morning, they attend mass For many Ethiopians, Christmas, where religious dances are or Leddat, is a purely religious performed. Ethiopians do not holiday. Ethiopian Orthodox exchange gifts during ChristChristians follow their own cal- mas. endar, close to the Julian calendar, and therefore celebrate Mexico Christmas on January 7th rather than December 25th. Leddat is The Christmas season begins not the most important holiin on December 16 in Mexiday. In fact, many people call co with Las Posadas. Posada it Genna, after the ball game is the Spanish word for inn. many play only once a year, During the nine days leading during Christmas afternoon. up to Christmas, a procesChristmas celebrations include sion winds its way through processions with religious obtown with a statue of Mary
the traditions of some countries across the world? How do they compare to your own family’s traditions?
