As the holiday season approaches, individuals and families begin to plan their celebrations and traditions. While many people are accustomed to common traditions like exchanging gifts and decorating a tree, there are a plethora of fascinating holiday customs to explore outside of their usual cultural procedures.
In Japan, Christmas is not a religious holiday, but it is still commonly celebrated. One popular Japanese Christmas tradition is eating KFC. Known as ‘Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii’ (Kentucky for Christmas), people have been enjoying fried chicken on Christmas Eve since the early 1970s. The tradition started when the fast-food chain launched a quirky ad campaign, and it has now become a nationwide event that often involves long waiting times to get your hands on a box of crispy chicken.
In Ethiopia, Christmas celebration, also known as Genna, is observed on the 7th of January. The day is spent fasting until 6 am, after which families head to church for a ceremony that lasts three hours. Traditionally, Ethiopian Genna celebrations include songs, dancing, and playing games, especially a version of hockey called ‘genna.’
In Mexico, Christmas could stretch until February 2nd with the celebration of Dia de los Reyes, also known as the Three Kings Day. Families serve ‘Rosca de Reyes,’ a frosted pastry usually baked with a baby Jesus figure hidden inside. Whoever finds the figure in their slice has to host a party on February 2nd, set for Candlemas Day.
The Swedish ‘Jultomte’ is a Christmas gnome that is often seen with a red hat and beard. Rather than hanging stockings for Santa, Swedish children leave out a bowl of porridge for the Jultomte because they believe that the gnome can ward off evil spirits. Moreover, Sweden usually celebrates St. Lucia Day, which takes place on December 13th. On this day, the eldest daughter in each family wears a white robe with a red sash and a wreath of candles on her head. She then wakes up her family with breakfast and a candlelit procession.
In Venice, Italy, the celebration of Epiphany typically features ‘La Befana,’ a witch that distributes gifts on January 6th. The legend of La Befana says she was invited to visit baby Jesus but declined. Later, she realized her error and gathered gifts and flew around on a broomstick, searching for the baby. Even though she never found him, she continued to deliver presents to children, just in case.
Lastly, in Germany, celebrated on Saint Nicholas Eve (December 5th), children place their shoes outside, hoping to wake up to find them stuffed with sweet treats and small toys. Meanwhile, for the parents, the time of Advent usually means waking up with a little surprise treat from a calendar, often containing chocolate or other small items.
In conclusion, experiencing holiday traditions from other cultures can be an exciting and educational experience. By exploring the customs and beliefs of other communities, we can broaden our understanding of diversity and appreciate the richness of our world’s cultural heritage. These customs, practiced worldwide, show that there are universal themes that connect us, even in these times of social distancing.
