Main Sections

Holiday Traditions From Around The Globe And Here At Home

Tuesday December 9, 2008

By Cookie Steponaitis

    The holidays bring people together and create memories that last a lifetime. For each individual there are special events, scents, and remembrances that stand out. Perhaps your family has a special tradition that occurs only in holiday times? For each nation in the world the traditions vary, but still they bring people together.

    Switzerland, for example, is a country made up of peoples from Swiss-German, French, Italian and Romansh heritage. As a result, the customs of the nation reflects traditions from all. While most of the nation has decorated trees, gifts are exchanged on December 6th, which is St. Nicholas Day. The week before, children dress up in festive outfits and visit homes where they receive small gifts. Bell ringing occurs in most towns and many gather for a midnight mass which is followed by donuts and hot chocolate. Tree decorations traditionally include snowflakes which represent regions of Switzerland, stars and real candles.

    Wishing friends happy holidays in Ireland would be pronounced, “Nodlaig Nait Cugat" and homes would be decorated with St. Bridget’s Cross, which is hand made from reeds and represents the patron saint of Ireland. The Irish chose not to use the tree as a symbol of the season and many have nativities on display instead. Candles in the windows signal the holidays and are light at night.  One ancient custom which is celebrated on December 26th is called, “Feeding the Wren”. Children go out into the countryside and look for a wren, which resembles a small sparrow. If one can not be caught, then one is purchased. The bird is placed in a cage and the children go about their town collecting money for the poor. The boys are dressed in costume and make loud noises carrying a holly bush. This tradition is in honor of St. Stephen, who was a martyr. Legend says that he was found hiding in a holly bush by the Roman army when a wren sang loudly, giving away his position.

    Were you to journey to the Caribbean and experience the holidays there, you might be interested to learn that you would see poinsettias all over the islands. The season includes music and groups go from house to house over a six week period playing and singing. The songs are seen as gifts that are presented to friends and neighbors. In Puerto Rico, on December 28th, there is a celebration called the day of fools. Similar in function to April fool’s Day, people tease, trick and fool friends.

    While many associate the decorating of a tree with the British Isles, the British did not have Christmas tress officially until 1841 when Prince Albert brought a tree into Windsor Castle and decorated it for then Queen Victoria and the children. December 26th, known as Boxing Day, signals the beginning of the Christmas celebrations and over the following twelve days there are collections for the poor, special gatherings, festivals and children theater shows of well known fairy tales. While the first Christmas card was mailed in England in the 1840’s many credit the works of Charles Dickens and A Christmas Carol, for planting many of the traditions in place in America. At the holiday dinner table children will find noisemakers called “crackers.” These are wrapped in colored foil paper and have a tab which you pull to open them. When you open them, they make a loud noise like a pop.

    When asked to share their own special holiday traditions, local Vermonters responded with such traditions as, “ going on a sleigh ride on Christmas eve,” “ lighting a log in the fireplace,” “ singing carols together”, “ taking Christmas meals to shut ins”, “ decorating sugar cookies,” “ telling stories,” “ attending midnight mass,” “ cooking special recipes that are handed down and only used at Christmas”, “ leaving an anonymous gift for neighbors,” “ calling friends far away,” “ and making plates full of home baked goods for friends and neighbors.”

    Whether you see your favorite tradition here or not does not matter, for each person, family and nation has their own way of gathering together for the holidays. What is most important is the acceptance of the diverse ways of celebrating and the knowledge that what lingers long after the food, lights and trees fade is the sense of family, fun, peace and renewal. Enjoy the holidays, no matter how you celebrate!

Printer Friendly

Top

Advertisements

Search our Archives