Christmas is such an exciting and fun holiday for so many people around the world, yet many people are not aware of its origin or all the different ways it is celebrated.

The Origin of Christmas

Before Christmas became a holiday, Christians only celebrated Easter, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, in the fourth century, the Church decided to create a holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Because the actual date of his birth is unknown, Pope Julius I chose December 25. It is believed that Christmas was created as a winter holiday because the Romans already had many holidays celebrating their gods in December. December 25 was also the birth of the god, Mithras, god of the sun, and by making Christmas the same day Pope Julius I was able to integrate more of the Romans’ original religion into the Christian faith. By the end of the eighth century, Christmas had spread throughout most of Europe. However, it was not until the 19th century that Christmas became a popular holiday in America.

Today, Christmas is celebrated around the world by millions of people on almost every continent. And, each nation has a different and unique way of celebrating it.

Traditions Around the World

Chile Christmas is celebrated on the 25th of December, even though it is summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Although the season is different from the United States, some of the traditions are rather similar. During this festive time of year, neighbors will compete to have the best light display, their most important decoration being the nativity scene of Jesus’ birth. Since the majority of Chileans are Catholic, many people go to mass for the nine days leading up to Christmas. Christmas Eve is more important than Christmas Day, and it is known as Noche Buena. On Christmas Eve friends and family gather together for dinner around nine PM and then head to church around 10 PM. After church, families exchange gifts and Santa’s or “Papa Noel’s” gifts are received at midnight.

Australia Just like in Chile, Christmas is a summer holiday in Australia as well. To decorate, people hang wreaths on their doors and hang lights around their homes. Australia also is known to have a certain street that earns over $25,000 for charity by opening up their displays to the public. Instead of having a Christmas tree they decorate a ‘Christmas Bush,’ which is a native plant. The holiday singing does not stop there since many people carol in addition to decorating. In many states, carols by candlelight services are held, and famous Australian singers perform. Santa delivers his presents on Kangaroos since it is said that he gives his reindeer a rest when he gets to Australia. The day following Christmas is called Boxing Day. This holiday originated in England, but in Australia, it is a day where major sporting events are held, such as the National Cricket tournament and the Bluewater Classic yacht race. This day is celebrated primarily by going to the beach and watching sporting events.

Venezuela In Venezuela, Christmas begins on December 21st, and it is celebrated through Three Kings Day on January 6th. Because there are very few pine trees in Venezuela, many families create nativity scenes to display instead. In Caracas, Venezuelans roller skate to mass every Sunday, beginning on December 16th and ending on Christmas Eve. The streets are closed after eight AM to allow this. Leading up to Christmas, children throughout Venezuela eagerly await St. Nicolas and Baby Jesus to bring them gifts that are opened at midnight.

Japan Christmas is a relatively new holiday in Japan; it has only been celebrated in the past few decades. However, Christmas is not seen as a religious holiday, like it is in many other places around the world. Instead, it is thought of as a more romantic holiday. Couples spend Christmas Eve together, while Christmas day is spent with family. In Japan, a traditional Christmas meal includes KFC and a traditional Japanese Sponge Cake (🍰). Although Christmas is not a national holiday, it is celebrated by many people, and most schools are closed for the holiday and through the New Year. Every Christmas children throughout Japan await gifts from Mr. Santa and Hoteiosho, the Buddhist god of good fortune.

Madagascar Despite the warm climate in Madagascar this time of year, the common decoration consists of snow, robbins, and holly, all of which are not found in the country. Poinsettias are often found during the holiday season. However, they do not flower because they are not meant to grow in a warm climate. Many people attend church services on Christmas Eve that can last from five PM to past midnight. These services consist of several church groups singing to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. On Christmas day, friends and family dress in their best clothes for a fun and delicious dinner.

All of these countries have their own ways of celebrating Christmas. Some traditions are similar to what we are used to in the United States, but many provide a different experience that is unique to their own country.

Sources:

https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas

https://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/germany.shtml

https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/australia/boxing-day