by Gus Mercado
Combining modern ideas with ancient traditions, holidays are expressions of religion, culture, history, creativity and spirit. Holidays are human creations that, like humans, twist and vary over time from the forces of changing viewpoints and the circumstances that surround them.
The period between November and January seems, on a worldwide scale, to be a time of renewal, goodwill, of hope and magic, regardless of race, nationality or religion. Christmas, Hanukkah, Loy Krathong, all represent distinct world views and customs that are unique to each region or ethnic group. A journey around the world during this joyful season provides a fascinating view of the vast array of traditions.
CHRISTMAS
On no other holiday is the idea of cultural identification more evident than in the celebration of Christmas. This universal tale of a family facing great hardships during the birth of a child is complete with miracles, wise kings, evil forces and lowly shepherds. Marking the beginning of one of the world’s major religions, the birth of Christ was an occasion that for many became a turning point in the history of the world.
Throughout the history of Christmas, local customs intertwined with religious significance bring extraordinary depth to the holiday. Individuals learned the colorful customs of previous generations but added innovations through the years. After Martin Luther first introduced the Christmas tree to reflect his ideological correlation between God and the beauty of nature, people around the world have molded and changed Christmas as they examine their relationships with family, friends and community.
ITALY
What has become a traditional part of the Christmas holidays for many Italians was once part of the ancient Roman celebration of the Winter Solstice. Laurels of green holly and ivy which decorated Roman homes were of great significance due to their ability to thrive in wintertime when nothing else could. Holly and ivy symbolized for the Romans the promise of renewal and fertility in the spring. Although later Christian leaders frowned on the old Roman pagan traditions, by the 4th Century A.D., they “resurrected” the use of holly and ivy as they searched for ways to bring new meaning to old customs. This ancient symbol of new life seemed to fit well with the young religion.
The nativity scene originated in Italy. Saint Francis of Assisi introduced the nativity play in 1223 to make the story of Jesus’ birth vivid to Christian followers. He asked townspeople to play the parts of each character, and the story was presented live inside the church. As the idea caught on, it gradually developed into the use of small figurines, instead of real people, to represent the members of the Holy Family.
GERMANY
The Christmas season starts early in Germany. On the night of December 6, children place shoes on the windowsill, in hopes that the next morning St. Nicholas has left candies, fruits and nuts for them.
Germany also has a long tradition of observing Advent which dates back to the 6th century A.D., when Roman Catholic leaders designated the four weeks before Christmas as a time of worship and fasting in honor of the coming of the birth of Christ. To commemorate Advent, a wreath displaying four candles is set up in a prominent place in the home. The candles are lit successively, one week, at Christmas, the candles form a circle of ascending heights.
The wreath used around the advent candles has its origin in the same ancient reverence of green life which thrived with the onset of winter in Roman celebrations.
THAILAND
On a full-moon night in the twelfth lunar month, the Thai people gather at water’s edge to celebrate the festival of Loy Krathong, or Floating Lotus cups. As the story goes, one of the wives of a Thai king, Nang Nophames, sought a way to please both her husband and the Lord Buddha as they rode by boat, visiting temples. The idea occurred to her to make a paper lantern in the shape of a lotus flower, which for the Thai people symbolizes the flowering of the human spirit. She filled the lanterns with carved birds and a candle and cast it afloat for all to see. The king was so pleased that he declared that on this night every year all his subjects should follow the same custom. Since then, each year the Thai people cast their sins to the water on the Lotus cups and begin anew. The best luck is had by those who watch their cups glow until they are lost in the distance.
THE HOLY LAND
Faithful followers from the numerous branches of Christianity: Greek and Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and other Protestant groups arrive yearly here, despite threats of religious conflicts, to celebrate the birth of the Child Christ. In spite of ideological differences, the branches of Christianity share this region’s holy places not only with other Christians, but with Jews and Muslims as well. The historical convergence of ideas makes the Holy Land a crossroads of religious history, development, and, unavoidably, conflict.
The Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem is the focus of Christmas celebrations. Built in 325 A.D. by the first Christian Roman Emperor Constantine, it lies over a series of caves which are considered to be the place of Christ’s birth. Roman Catholics march in midnight processions to the Grotto to celebrate the birth of Christ on December 25. Three distinct cultures and lifestyles coexist here, but out of the contrast a timeless norm shines, in which both modern tourists and women in traditional Arab dress seem at home.
RUSSIA
Historians divide Russian holiday celebrations into three categories. Old Russia, Soviet Russia and Renaissance Russia. During the 70 years labelled Soviet Russia, laws prohibited the open celebration of Christmas; however, in the Russia of today, people are now free to practice the religion and customs of their choice.
In Old Russia, costumed carolers called mummers accompanied the feasts and celebrations. Travelling house to house by troika, or sleigh, mummers disguised as bears, donkeys, and other animals performed Christmas stories and antics for their neighbors.
Russia once had a legendary figure called Father Christmas, but the figure was banned during the revolution for its relation to the Christian holiday. Russia soon developed its own version of Santa Claus called Father Frost. Father Frost has a female counterpart that is unique to Russia. The Snow Maiden is a young girl who long ago sprang to life from a beautiful snow sculpture. Today, these two characters form an integral part of the Christmas celebration at Red Square, where they can be seen dressed in blue, fur-trimmed suits.
WEST AFRICA
In the Christmastime and New Year traditions of Gambia and Senegal in West Africa, street celebrations are quite spectacular. The Wolof and Mandinka tribes create these traditional celebrations by forming clubs with neighbors, and great competitions are staged between these rival groups. As survival in Africa has depended for centuries on agriculture and the elements, most celebrations have their origins in the reverence of natural and spiritual forces.
Two beautiful celebrations are the Kan Korang dancer competition, where a colorfully dressed “boogie-man-spirit” dances for onlookers, and the traditional Fanal boat festival where intricate handcrafted wooden-stick boats are lighted with candles and placed in boats and paraded.
MEXICO
Mexico is by nature colorful and lively, and its people spare no enthusiasm for their celebrations. Christmas actually begins nine days before December 25, when the Posadas begin. The Posadas are a series of nightly processions in remembrance of Mary’s and Joseph’s nine-day search for shelter. On each of the nine evenings, neighborhood singing groups carry a nativity scene from house to house. Then, on Christmas Eve, the nativity finally comes to rest in a nearby home, and the Child is added to the scene. Later hours bring the piñata, a brightly decorated papier mâché shell in the form of a star, animal or cartoon character, which holds candies, fruits and nuts. It is suspended from a ceiling or tree limb and blindfolded children gather round and excitedly try to “bash” happiness and goodwill, represented by the candies and goodies.
The poinsettia flower has an ancient and important history in Mexican celebrations. La Flor de Noche Buena (flower of the Holy Night) blooms in December, seemingly just for the occasion. Legend has it that a young boy wished to give a gift to the newborn Christ Child but was poor and had nothing to give. He had the idea that the child might enjoy a bouquet of green leaves which he picked up from a bush nearby. As his friends laughed, red star-shaped flowers suddenly appeared atop each green leaf. It was these bright red flowers which were given to the Christ Child on his birth night and now brighten millions of lives worldwide in December.
BAHAMAS
On December 26 and January 1, English Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, respectively, Bahamians celebrate what they call the festival of Junkanoo. Passed down from generation to generation since the days of slavery. Junkanoo originated when African descendants created their own “secret” year-end celebration that proclaimed their heritage. Today, Bahamians literally work year-round to build elaborate costumes and displays that show off their creative passion. Then, twice a year in the pre-dawn hours, hand-made drums and cowbells summon everyone out of their homes and into the streets. Costume contests give way to frenetic street dancing and revelry which culminate into a funky, exotic festival that leaves everyone exhausted.
JAPAN
In Asian countries, the New Year brings the greatest celebration. Stemming from Japanese ancient wisdom, the season is a time for renewal and preparation for the year to come. Ancient rituals are followed in the hope of shaking off the past and welcoming in the future. Houses are ritually cleaned, characters are reassessed, personal changes are made.
Decorations have intricate significance. The kumade is a bamboo rake hung with lucky gods and other images which must be bought new each year in order to ensure its potency. On the Last Great Day, families gather to await the midnight tolling of the temple bells, which according to custom, must toil 108 times. After paying respect to the shrine, everyone enjoys a meal and exchanges gifts.
In Japan, only 1% of the population is Christian, but many western Christmas customs are amazingly popular. In urban areas, Christmas shopping is a highlight of the season. During the week of December 25, many exchange gifts and indulge in large Christmas cakes, which traditionally hide small surprises for lucky eaters. As for music, on the holiday streets one hears both Japanese hymns and western Christmas melodies sung in Japanese.
PHILIPPINES
Of all the countries, it is in the Philippines where the ceremony and festivities of Christmas are longest and most religious. For many years, the celebration of Christmas started in early December through January 6, their Feast of Three Kings. But in recent years, Filipinos’ celebration of Christmas has gotten longer, starting as early as September in some parts of the country. There is even a place in Central Luzon called the “Paskuhan Village” where Christmas is celebrated year-round.
The Philippines is the only predominantly Christian country in Asia. In the Christian section of the Philippines everyone prepares for the world’s most elaborate celebrations. For nine days before Christmas, most Filipinos rise at 4:00 a.m. to attend Mass, the “Simbang Gabi” at the Catholic churches throughout the islands. After the religious ceremonies, families enjoy morning snacks of “salabat”, “bibingka” and “puto-bumbong” with neighbors and friends and stroll through the bazaar of small shops which line the streets. The ubiquitous Christmas “parol” or lantern is present in almost every home, church, business and commercial building. The very colorful “parol” is either home-made or commercially and intricately made with dizzying kaleidoscopes of moving lights.
Filipinos have adopted many of the western ways of celebrating Christmas, from singing of “Winter wonderland” and “Dashing through the snow” tunes to the paunchy Santa Claus at every Christmas gathering. While fir trees are not plentiful in the tropics, people in the Philippines decorate palms, dry or artificial trees with bright ornamentation including tiny star lanterns, candies, and fruits tied with ribbons, small wood or bamboo carvings, small baskets, glittered items like garlands and icicles. To give trees a cold-weather climate look, people make snow from shaved and melted soap bars or cotton. No other country beats the Philippines in imagination, creativity and pageantry.
On Christmas Day, young Filipino children, well-dressed in their best church attire, are brought to the homes of elders to pay respect, kiss their hands and receive “Aginaldos” or gifts of food, clothes or money. This is one of many endearing cultural traditions and values that have been passed on from generations to generations of Filipinos.
UNITED STATES – The Melting Pot
Christmas in the United States is a conglomeration of elements of every Christmas celebration mentioned here, and many more. As each ethnic group assimilates into the “melting pot”, in its own unique and special way, leaves a mark on the community through its expression of song, dance, decoration and traditions.
With the growing appreciation for the variety of cultures which are part of the American tapestry, individuals from various heritages and grassroots organizations have formed a new collective effort to recognize the traditions of all peoples and to celebrate together. The project is called H.O.P.E. (Holiday Observances of People Everywhere). The goal of the Dallas-Texas based group is to bring together diverse cultural groups and traditions (Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Shintoist and others) throughout the country in order to better understand the global community in which we live. Also based in Dallas, Texas is a unique fellowship group called “The Cousins Club” which is composed of Christians, Arabs and Jews who dine, pray and celebrate the holidays together in a spirit of unity, friendship and harmony.
Common traditions and customs can always be found, even in a world of conflicts and strife. Through the study of holidays, the views and practices of other cultures become clear. And we move one step closer to global peace and understanding.
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