The holiday season is a time for families and friends to come together and celebrate. It is a time of joy, love, and kindness. Every culture has its own holiday traditions and rituals, and experiencing them can be a fascinating and enriching experience. Here are some holiday traditions to experience in other cultures:
In Japan, Christmas is not a national holiday, and it is not typically celebrated by Christians. However, a unique tradition has developed over the years, wherein people gather in the streets of Tokyo and other major cities to admire the thousands of Christmas lights adorning the buildings and shopping centers. Japanese people also enjoy KFC on Christmas Day as a family meal.
In Mexico, the holiday season is celebrated with a nine-day festival called Posadas. Posadas is a reenactment of the pilgrimage of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. It takes place from December 16 to December 24, and every night, a procession of people carrying candles and singing traditional songs winds down the streets. The procession stops at different houses, asking for shelter, but is refused a few times until they reach the final house, where they are welcomed in with open arms. The celebration ends with plenty of food, piñatas, and fireworks.
In Germany, Christmas markets are a staple of the holiday season. Every town and city has its own market, where vendors sell handmade crafts, Christmas decorations, and traditional food and drinks such as hot mulled wine, sausages, gingerbread, and roasted nuts. Christmas markets usually open in late November and stay open until Christmas Eve.
In Italy, the Feast of the Seven Fishes takes place on Christmas Eve. As the name suggests, it involves eating seven different types of seafood dishes. The feast is rooted in the Catholic tradition of abstaining from meat on Christmas Eve, but it has also become a festive family occasion.
In Sweden, Saint Lucia’s Day is celebrated on December 13. It is a tradition to commemorate the Sicilian saint, who is said to have brought light into the darkness, and is marked by a procession of young girls wearing white dresses and carrying candles. The procession is led by a girl dressed as Lucia, who wears a crown of candles on her head.
In India, Christmas is celebrated by the small Christian community, but it has also been adopted as a secular holiday by many. In some parts of the country, people decorate banana or mango trees instead of fir trees, as they are more readily available. Christmas is also a popular time to enjoy traditional sweet treats such as kulkuls, guava cheese, and rose cookies.
These are just a few examples of the diverse holiday traditions around the world. By experiencing these traditions, you can gain a deeper appreciation for other cultures and their customs. Whether you find yourself admiring the sparkling lights of Tokyo, singing traditional songs in the streets of Mexico, or feasting on seafood dishes in Italy, the holiday season is a time to savor and appreciate the joys of life in all its forms.
