Christmas is a holiday celebrated by millions worldwide. Since it has become a global holiday different cultures and nations have come up with unique ways to celebrate it. It has helped to transform a primarily Western holiday into one of the great global holidays of the year. If you are a parent who wants to make Christmas more interesting taking a look at how other countries celebrate to get some good ideas. You never know when you may find a tradition that will appeal to you and help your kids learn about the many faces of Christmas. Here are just some of the holiday traditions that you can choose from.
The African Christmas in not the traditional White Christmas that most people in the western world are familiar with. However, it is every bit as festive if not more so than how most European nations celebrate it. In Africa there is a great emphasis on the Church, feasting, dancing, and then presents. The African Christmas starts in reality with the Christmas Day service. In some counties like the Congo it is customary to leave a gift at the altar of the church at the end of the service for the Christ Child. After the service family and neighbors celebrate with a big holiday feast with music and dancing. Gifts are also more practical and while toys can be given, families also use it as an opportunity to get new clothes for children. English speaking countries in Africa also celebrate British Christmas holidays such as Boxing Day.
Brazil is another tropical country that celebrates the holidays in its own unique way. Like many Latin American countries, its holiday traditions are strongly influenced by the Catholic Church to which a majority of this part of the world is adherents. Christmas holidays follows the traditional month long celebration and ends on Jan 6 with Three Kings Day, the traditional Catholic holiday that commemorates when the three Wise Men came to see baby Jesus. In Brazil the build Nativity scenes called Presepios. Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve is also considered to be important and is followed by a great Holiday feast. Santa Claus is called Father Christmas and it is believed that he lives in Greenland not the North Pole.
Austria is a European country with some of the world's oldest holiday traditions. For them Santa Claus who they call Saint Nicholas visits children on Dec 6 accompanied by the devil to take an accounting of their good and bad deeds for the previous year. If they have been good they get sweets and toys. On Christmas Eve things are done differently than in the United States. Instead of Santa Claus coming to deliver presents, the Christ Child comes and not only that, he also brings the Christmas tree! Caroling is also a big part of the season in Austria. Actually some famous carols such as Silent Night originated there.
If you want to make a new tradition for your children you can have them receive a call from Santa Claus. This will be a special and magical moment as your children who still believe in Santa get to talk to the Jolly Old Elf himself. You just order the call online and customize it with the good things that your kids have done and what they wanted for Christmas.
The African Christmas in not the traditional White Christmas that most people in the western world are familiar with. However, it is every bit as festive if not more so than how most European nations celebrate it. In Africa there is a great emphasis on the Church, feasting, dancing, and then presents. The African Christmas starts in reality with the Christmas Day service. In some counties like the Congo it is customary to leave a gift at the altar of the church at the end of the service for the Christ Child. After the service family and neighbors celebrate with a big holiday feast with music and dancing. Gifts are also more practical and while toys can be given, families also use it as an opportunity to get new clothes for children. English speaking countries in Africa also celebrate British Christmas holidays such as Boxing Day.
Brazil is another tropical country that celebrates the holidays in its own unique way. Like many Latin American countries, its holiday traditions are strongly influenced by the Catholic Church to which a majority of this part of the world is adherents. Christmas holidays follows the traditional month long celebration and ends on Jan 6 with Three Kings Day, the traditional Catholic holiday that commemorates when the three Wise Men came to see baby Jesus. In Brazil the build Nativity scenes called Presepios. Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve is also considered to be important and is followed by a great Holiday feast. Santa Claus is called Father Christmas and it is believed that he lives in Greenland not the North Pole.
Austria is a European country with some of the world's oldest holiday traditions. For them Santa Claus who they call Saint Nicholas visits children on Dec 6 accompanied by the devil to take an accounting of their good and bad deeds for the previous year. If they have been good they get sweets and toys. On Christmas Eve things are done differently than in the United States. Instead of Santa Claus coming to deliver presents, the Christ Child comes and not only that, he also brings the Christmas tree! Caroling is also a big part of the season in Austria. Actually some famous carols such as Silent Night originated there.
If you want to make a new tradition for your children you can have them receive a call from Santa Claus. This will be a special and magical moment as your children who still believe in Santa get to talk to the Jolly Old Elf himself. You just order the call online and customize it with the good things that your kids have done and what they wanted for Christmas.
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Create magic in your child's eyes with our letters from Santa. EZSantaLetters.com offers fully personalized Santa letters and 15 pre-written Santa Letters. All letters are postmarked from the North Pole and will definitely put a smile on your child's face.
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