Christmas Around The World

The Essence of Christmas around the World

Christmas is not only celebrated by people belonging to other faiths as well. The festival of Christmas brings about love, joy and serenity in to the lives of people all around the world. The basic underlying feelings are the same but the festival of Christmas is distinguishably different in different nations and cultures.

We all know how Christmas is celebrated in the countries, Christianity originated from. Let’s take a look at how the festival feels in other nationalities where Christianity isn’t the primary religion.

Christmas in China

The festival of Christmas in China is a simple affair. The children decorate the Christmas tree with colourful ornaments made of paper, lanterns and chains. They also hang muslin stockings hoping Santa would fill it up with Christmas goodies.

The Chinese Christmas tree is referred to as the “Tree of Light”. Santa Claus, in Chinese, is called “Dun Chi Lao Ren” which means, “The Christmas Old Man”.

The Chinese celebrate the festival with feasts and gifts. They also pay respect to their ancestors.

Christmas in Egypt

In Egypt, according the orthodox Coptic Church, Christmas is celebrated on January 7th. A 40 day advent is observed and people go on fasts. Most people, though, go on fasts only during the last week.

On Christmas Eve, people visit the church wearing new dresses and outfits. The midnight chimes and bells mark the end of the Christmas service after which, people head home for supper which generally consists of boiled meat, garlic, rice and bread.

Christmas mornings are spent visiting friends and relatives. Homemade “Kaik”, a kind of short bread is one of the gifts that are exchanged on this day. The day, of course, is observed as a national holiday.

Christmas in Iraq

In Iraqi Christian homes, an unusual Christian celebration is followed. On the Eve of Christmas, children gather around the courtyard to read stories of Christ and Nativity from an Arabic Bible. All members of the family light up candles and once the stories are read, a fire is lit at one corner of the courtyard. According to popular beliefs, the future of a family depends upon how the fire burns. Psalms are sung by the fire and family members are supposed to jump over the ashes thrice and make a wish.

On Christmas day, hymns are chanted inside the church by the men of congregation. The service ends with blessings from the bishop who blesses one member who further puts his hands upon the next and so on until all inside the church are blessed.

Christmas in Lebanon

The Lebanese Christmas is amazingly spiritual! A few weeks before Christmas, Lebanese people and everyone else in the middle-east plant lentils, beans, wheat-grains and chickpeas. The seeds sprout by the time Christmas arrives. These little plants, while depicting nativity scenes, are use to surround the manger.

On the day of Christmas, people visit their relatives and friends with gifts and goodies. Lunch is prepared and the whole family gathers around to eat it.

No matter what religion or nationality, Christmas is celebrated with the same passion and fervour all around the world.