From Around the World
Here are some customs from around the world, though if anyone wishes to contribute more customs and traditions, I would be absolutely thrilled!! I would be happy to post any and all contributions, and believe me, each and all shall have credit for their additions!
Please Send submissions to Ravenna so I can add more cool information about the holidays in other countries around the world!
Australia
In Australia, things are a little backwards, or at least to those of us in the Northern Hemisphere they are. It's summertime down under, so their traditions are a little different.
Originally, since Australia was once an English colony, they stuck with the English traditions of Yule logs, trees and roasted turkey. However, they've started to create their own traditions, too. It's way too hot for roasts, so now they get together and have seafood lunch picnics and Barbecues. And the beach is really popular to hang out at on Christmas day, some families even go on camping trips during the Christmas season for their summer holidays.
Some people think that when Santa visits Australia, there are Kangaroos instead of Reindeer pulling his sleigh! But still, Santa comes and visits all the good little girls and boys and brings presents for all.
Singing carols by Candlelight is also very popular in Australia as well. In some of the capital cities there are huge concerts and everyone gathers together with blankets and lots of candles. It's very pretty to see all the lights twinkling and people singing along with local celebrities. It's just a good fun time.
Thanks to Noni in Australia for the Information on Christmas Traditions Down Under!
Portugal
On Christmas Eve, most families get together and eat traditional foods, such as boiled codfish with potatoes, vegetables and turkey. Their desserts are many and varied, but some popular ones are sweet rice, lampreia (those are awesome!!) , orange pie, and cuscurões with Port wine.
At midnight, all the Christians and Catholics go to their Church's to celebrate the Rooster Prayer. Afterwards, everyone goes home and finds that Santa has come and left the presents under the tree.
The next day, the families get together again for more feasting and fun, and according to my Portuguese friend, Christmas is a bad time to try and keep in shape, they love to eat!
Special thanks to Vera in Portugal for your county's beautiful traditions!
Poland
In Poland, the most important day of the Christmas season is Christmas Eve. After the first star has appeared in the sky, the families begin to have Christmas Eve dinner. There is hay underneath the tablecloth, and each person must draw one stalk of hay and tell their fortune from the shape of their stalk.
An empty place is set a the table for a wanderer. Older traditions say that this place is for the souls of ancestors who return on Christmas day to visit their families. Christmas in Pagan times was the Polish Feast of the Dead, much like Samhain is for us now - a night when the veils between the worlds is very thin.
So, back to dinner. First the family shares the Holy Wafer and wishes, everyone breaks off a piece of everyone else's wafer and exchanges wishes. The custom of Polish families is to have 12 dishes at the table and you must try each dish in order to make sure that the coming year is prosperous. Most dishes have no meat, as the people are still fasting during Christmas.
Some traditional dishes are: herring (in vinegar, oil and cream), mushroom soup or borsh, and karp. Some families also have dumplings with cabbage and mushrooms, and even still some families have kutia, which is a mixture of honey, wheat and poppies.
After dinner is finished, the presents are finally opened and the next two days are filled with eating, meeting with family and at last you can have meat again.
Thank you to Enenna for the wonderful information on Polish Traditions!
