In Australia Christmas is celebrated in the height of summer it often gets above 30’C. Its too hot for Santa’s reindeer so he changes them for 6 snow white male kangaroos (male kangaroos are called boomers) at the equator.
Christmas eve there maybe a local carols by candle light (we all gather in a the park or local sports ground and sing eat and have a good time) if not you watch the Melbourne carols.
Christmas morning is spent opening the presents from Santa (or if you are a dad like me assembling toys from Santa).
Christmas day we have a big lunch with roast meat and hand out presents. We spend the rest of the day sleeping off the food and beer or playing back yard cricket or at the beach.
Boxing day we catch up with friends and eat leftovers and fall asleep watching the boxing day test match (more cricket).
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I'm living in the US, so, as you know, my Christmases are incredibly boring. But this This American Life has a story from David Sedaris about the Christmases of the Dutch, so that might work for ya. :D
I am in the US, so I am not sure this counts…but we celebrate 'Little Christmas' (a.k.a. Epiphany) on January 6 where we give another gift to family.
In Germany it's mostly quite (americanized) traditional: christmas tree, church, santa claus, mr. frosty, christmas songs, shopping, turkey etc.
Materialism, the reason for the season.
I'm living in the US, so, as you know, my Christmases are incredibly boring.
Nothing fom the States is ever boring. We could be making plastic spoons in a mass assembly line and it would still require a guitar solo. And jet fuel.
IRT OP:
Here in GA, USA we have pretty Traditional Christmases - Christ, manger scenes, tree, nutcrackers, etc. Though down here we always do things a bit different - we spent Christmas shooting new guns and frying turkeys.
Only for some.
You did not give any gifts this Christmas?
In Germany it's mostly quite (americanized) traditional: christmas tree, church, santa claus, mr. frosty, christmas songs, shopping, turkey etc.
I thought Christmas trees were a German tradtion introduced to England by Prince Albert?
In Germany it's mostly quite (americanized) traditional: christmas tree, church, santa claus, mr. frosty, christmas songs, shopping, turkey etc.
I don't know about americanised at all. At least not in my corner of the country:
Gift giving (Bescherung) takes place on Christmas Eve (Heiligabend).
Gifts are brought by Christ Child (das Christkind), not by Santa Clause.
Festivities start in the evening, often after vistiting church in the afternoon (there's usually an afternoon mass on Christmas Eve especially for children), though some still go to the late-night masses.
Sometimes, children are encouraged (or required) to recite something - a short peom or song - before the Gift giving starts.
St. Nikolaus (our name for Santa Clause) comes to children on Dec 6 (the day Nikolaos of Myra died), sometimes accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht (Santa's Helper). It's usual for someone from the family or one of the family's friends (or someone you hire) plays the part of the Nikolaus, and sometimes his helper, too. If the kids were god, they are given gifts (traditionally sweets, especially St. Nicks made of chocolate, some fruit like apples and oranges, nuts, and cookies.). If they were bad, they'd get a birching by Knecht Ruprecht, but usually he just admonishes the kids to be nice in the next year.
In recent years, the custom has changed for many people from giving the kids only sweets and the like to giving them small material gifts, too (same as Easter, really), and in some cases, these can be expensive as well (but not everyone subscribes to this bout of materialism).
Christmas Eve is usually celebrated with close family only. Bigger family meetings are usually held on 1st Christmas day (Dec 25), with additional meetings on 2nd Christmas day (Dec 26). The way I've seen it is that "Grandparents" that can gather the biggest family will have a celebration on the 1st day, and the family visits the other Grandparents on the day after.
These celebrations usually start with lunch, continue with coffee and cake in the afternoon (what in Germany, at least in my part of it, is known as "Kaffee", basically Teatime) and end some time in the evening after some drinks.
Of course, Christmas trees (Weihnachtsbaum, Christbaum or Tannenbaum, depending on region and/or personal preference) are widespread - after all, this tradition originated in Germany. Decorating the tree is usually a family tradition, and besides candles (well, actually, it's usually electrical fairy lights nowadays), tinsel and christmas tree balls (and, of course a christmas star for the tree's tip), a lot of people will often hang candy from the tree. That candy is usually eaten by "mice" (i.e. the kids, "playing mice" by eating the christmas decoration)
What else... Well, snowmen haven't ever been part of Christmas for us (though they might be part of snowy winter), turkey doesn't have any significance, and we don't have any caroling here.
Materialism, the reason for the season.Only for some.
Yes, but here's the real reason for everyone!
CLICK
Traditional Christmas (Jul) here in Denmark:
We celebrate on the 24th, i.e. Christmas Eve.
We usually gather only the closest family (siblings, parents, kids and grand parents) for a big Christmas dinner.
The dinner traditionally consists of duck (yum!) and pork loin with crackling, served with both white and caramelized potatoes, brown gravy and red cabbage.
For desert we have a large helping of Ris a la mande (rice pudding mixed with whipped cream, vanilla, and chopped almonds) - one whole almond is placed in the bowl and whoever gets it receives a special gift (usually chocolate or marzipan).
Later it's time to walk/dance around the Christmas tree, all the while singing Christmas carols.
Then it's time to dole out the presents, usually done by the kids (those who can read - or get help to read what's on the to/from labels).
Depending on the age (and maybe number) of the kids, Santa Claus (Julemanden) might play a role in this.
Much time is spent ohh'ing and ahh'ing over who gets what.
The evening is usually rounded off with coffee and lots of sweets and chocolates.
The first and second day after Christmas (25th and 26th) are usually spent with Christmas Lunches at either friends or other family.
Here in NM, USA we have luminarias
It is truly amazing that you can make something so pretty with only candles and brown paper lunch bags.
+1!!!
We New Mexicans have to stick together.
There's a NEW mexico?!
