I’m sure we all have our own Christmas traditions. There’s stuff like decorating a Christmas tree, watching Christmas films, and giving out presents! But have you ever taken a second to wonder what it’s like for people in other parts of the world? Well, in this article, you will be able to catch a small glimpse of what other people do for this worldwide holiday! Starting with…
The Hanging of Advent Calendars, Germany
Advent is the period which begins four Sundays before Christmas. Protestants in Germany often counted down the days until Christmas by marking 24 chalk lines on a door, then rubbing one off each day. Advent calendars which were instead made of paper became popular in the early 20th century, and were thought to first be mass produced by Gerhard Lang.
Noche de las Velitas, Columbia
Noche de las Velitas, or Night of the Little Candles, takes place on December 7 to honor Mary, the mother of Jesus, and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. It began as a Catholic celebration, but it has become more secular over time. Marking the beginning of the holiday season, this night has Columbians light up their homes with tons of colorful candles in paper lanterns. These lanterns often have some sort of pattern on them.
The Giving of Poinsettias, Mexico
Poinsettias are a type of flower which is indigenous to Central America and
southern Mexico. Legends tell of a girl at a Christmas service who had nothing to offer a baby Jesus but a bundle of weeds. However, when she knelt over to place the weeds by the nativity, they suddenly turned into bright red, blooming flowers. Ever since then, the flowers have become known as las Flores de Noche Buena, or the Flowers of the Holy Night.
