- By Jean Preuilh and Sirinat Phojjananakit from 2ndeSI
Nowadays, Christmas is celebrated almost everywhere, being either a religious feast or a commercial one. However it can be very different from one country to another. That’s why we asked ourselves how Christmas is celebrated all around the world and we have interviewed four students, each one from a different country, about the Christmas traditions in their country.
In Colombia, two days regarding Christmas are really important. During these days families gather and stay together.
On the seventh of December, « Las Velitas dias » is celebrated. This day is dedicated to Mary the Virgin. During it, families make lanterns that symbolise health and that they light at midnight.
On the twenty-fourth of December, it’s Christmas eve. Families gather around the dinner table and eat « Natilla », « Buñuelos », roasted chicken, sausages and crips for the children and they open the gifts at midnight which they ask for on the twenty-third on a letter they put in the tree, these presents are as the same kind as in France.
In Angola, Christmas is celebrated as a very religious feast and there are decorations, music, trees and presents just as in France, lasagnes are eaten during the Christmas eve dinner.
In the Philippines, people start to celebrate Christmas three months before the twenty fourth of December. The months before are dedicated to decorations, buying presents and as the main religion in the country is Catholicism, children knock on doors to sing religious songs and they ask for money. On Christmas eve, presents are given and people eat roasted pork called « Lechon ».
In Spain, Christmas Eve is celebrated just as the same as in France but another day is really important, the sixth of January which is called « Fiesta de Los tres Reyes Magos » and it’s Epiphany day. On this day, the Three Wise Men come to give a lot of gifts to the children thaty they ask on a letter . It’s like a second Christmas for the Spanish kids !
What about you? How did you celebrate Christmas this year?