Even though many people are quite familiar with European and North American Christmas traditions, there are many interesting and beautiful styles of celebration in other parts of the world as well.
This article will go through traditions seen throughout the world today that many of you may not know about.
Lebanon - Noël
Lebanon is a unique country; Catholics, Muslims, Druze, and Maronites all live together there despite their differences that they have had in the past. In solidarity, the Muslims of Lebanon celebrate Christmas together with the Maronites and Catholics even though it is considered a Christian holiday. All across the country, families gather and there are a lot of free events that occur. Televised events feature dancing, poetry, and singing.
Cuisine is incredibly important to the Lebanese and due to the occupations by the French or other colonizers, much of the traditions held by them have been left there. During Christmas, a dessert dish called meghli (مغلي), a spiced pudding, is shared to symbolize the birth of Jesus. The Lebanese people state that the brown colour of the pudding is like fertile soil, from which things grow. The pudding has caraway, rice, cinnamon, anise, and mixed nuts combined together.
Ghana
Christmas in Ghana begins on the 20th of December. It is a religious holiday where families attend church services wearing their traditional clothing. The service includes music and a Nativity Play performed by the children. The churches are decorated in flowers, lights, and other things. On the Eve of Christmas, there are massive processions where the chanting of "Egbona hee, egogo vo!" (Christ is coming, Christ is near) can be heard.
A very distinct Ghanaian practice during Christmas Day, is the tradition of going house to house while playing drums and dancing. The children wear specially crafted costumes and carry boxes with a slot to put money inside. They dance and chant to their hearts content, expecting coins to be slipped into the slots at the top of the boxes by the onlookers.
Christmas dinner in Ghana is completely different from western countries. Instead of a ham or turkey dinner, an okra stew, porridge, and a creamy Yam paste, called fufu, is served.
Kazakhstan - Рождество (Rojdestvo)
Kazakhstan, a predominantly Muslim country, doesn't exactly celebrate Christmas the same way the west does. Instead, they have massive Old New Year celebrations, blended with Christmas traditions, during January in accordance to Orthodox Christian calendar due to their former relationship with Russia. The Orthodox follow a Julian Calendar, hence why Christmas is a different day. As well, there is a smaller community of Catholic Christians who were deported to the area by Stalin. They celebrate a more recognizable Christmas on the 25th of December in accordance to Catholic tradition but, as formerly said, this is a much smaller community and is tucked away in comparison to the Muslims and Orthodox.
After the Russian Revolution in 1917, the Bolsheviks banned Christmas which, in turn, made the secular New Years come to the forefront in Kazakhstan. After the fall of the Soviet Empire, Kazakhs were once allowed to practice the religion of their forefathers out in the open but the county still celebrates a blend of New Years, or Nauryz in Kazakh language, and Christmas.
The recital of poetry inside small huts called Yurts is a special gathering that occurs during this time. Tables are covered with elaborate dishes containing nuts, fried dough, and bread. As well, a traditional dish called plov, which consists of rice, beef and carrots that are seasoned in cumin, is a main staple.
South Korea - Sung Tan Jul
Unlike in many Asian countries, Christmas Day is a National holiday meant for families to spend time with each other. Like in other places, it's a highly commercialized festival but done in different ways. The romantics head to restaurants and have dinner together or spend time at skating rinks, lit up in the night, where hot chocolate may be served afterwards. Especially in the capital Seoul, the light displays are magnificent. Popular shopping districts like Myeongdong, Dongdaemun, and Gangnam have common decorations like tinsel, lights, and Christmas trees.
Similarly to the west, Christmas Carols are quite popular. However, they'll be sung by famous K-Pop stars rather than western singers. Here is a song called "Dear Santa" by TTS.
Families don't really give gifts to each other in South Korea. However, Secret Santa and giving money to children are common practices. Santa, in Korean is 산타 클로스 (santa kullosu); rather than wearing the well-known red suit, Santa in Korea sometimes wears a vibrant blue.
Mexico - Navidad
Christmas in Mexico is full of beautiful traditional symbolism. The season begins on December 12th and ends on the day of candlemas, which is February 2nd. It incorporates both indigenous practices and those brought by the Spaniards during the colonization of the area. One of the most important activities in Mexico at this time is the setting up of the Nativity Scene, or nacimiento, on December 12th. The clay figures incorporated into the scenes are usually handed down from family member to family member. Mexican monks taught the people how to make them.
On the Eve of Christmas, or Noche Buena ,families gather at parties called a Posada. Children play a well-known game where papier-mâché stars with 7 points, filled with sweets, are hit with a stick while blindfolded. You may be aware of the animal shaped variety, sold at markets, but these are different; the stars' points are said to symbolize the seven deadly sins. Tables are filled with a variety of foods such as stews with chili, pork, and chicken. Two types of drinks are had during Christmas Eve: Ponche, a fruity beverage, and Rompope, an alcoholic drink featuring rum.
After eating and partying, families then head to a Midnight Mass called a Misa de Gallo at the strike of midnight. On the night of the 6th of January, children await their gifts. Instead of just one single man bringing presents to good children, in Mexico the three kings, or Los Reyes Magos, bring them on the day of Epiphany.
India
Despite India having a relatively small Christian community in comparison to that of Hindus and Buddhists, Christmas is still a huge family affair among the Catholics who number around 25 million practitioners. Like many of India's festivals, Christmas is quite colourful an vibrant. One of main types of decorations you'll find are ornate and handmade star lanterns. In the South of India, small oil lanterns are placed in homes, symbolizing the "light of the baby Christ".
Families gather 'round to cook and decorate together. Sweets are especially important parts of the food-making. A yummy dessert called Kidiyo is among the ones made during Christmas; it's a curly dough that is had rolled, deep fried, and dipped in sugar.
Midnight Mass, like many Catholics around the world, is a significant gathering for families in India. At midnight, a bell rings 10 times, announcing the birth of Christ. Everyone dresses in their best clothes and meet each other at the different churches or cathedrals. After the mass is over, many will go to cafes and share hot crossed buns or other types of treats.
In Kolkata, an incredible Christmas Parade is held annually during a festival on Park Street between December 21st and the 30th.
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