Christmas Day Traditions

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Today, Christmas is celebrated the world over through a combination of modern and ancient traditions. Marking the birth of Jesus Christ, a pivotal event in the Christian church, Christmas time is a time of festivity and family closeness for both religious and non-religious people. Some traditions are seen around the world – Christmas trees, lights, carols and gift giving – but each culture has created its own unique form of celebration. Read on to discover how Christmas is celebrated in New Zealand and around the world.

Christmas traditions in New Zealand

A Christmas celebration Downunder brings together the traditional and the Kiwi. Christmas trees and lights, gifts and Christmas stockings, carols and church services are all part of teh celebration, along with enjoyment of the summer season - barbeques in the backyard, long days at the beach and picnics in the park.

• Gifts – The giving of Christmas presents is a popular aspect of this time of year. Gifts are usually wrapped in red, green or festive wrapping paper and placed under a Christmas tree, to be opened on Christmas morning. For children, a Christmas stocking is an early-morning treat; filled with small gifts from Father Christmas, the stocking is traditionally hung at the end of the child’s bed or from the mantelpiece above the fireplace. Shopping for Christmas presents and the quest for the perfect gift can be a time-consuming business, so many Kiwis hit the shopping circuit as early as October.
• Cards - If friends and family can't be near, Kiwis send season's greetings with Christmas cards, showing Northern Hemisphere 'White Christmas' images or Kiwi Christmas images of pohutukawa trees in flower.
• Family – Universally, Christmas is a time to gather and connect with family, both immediate and extended. New Zealand families often travel long distances to be together at this time of year and according to a recent study, spending time with family is the most important part of celebrating Christmas!
• Christmas trees – Putting a Christmas tree up in the home, and decorating it with bright hanging decorations, tinsel, Christmas lights and a star on top, is part of almost every family's Christmas celebration. Some families also hang fairy lights around the home, light Advent or Christmas candles, display Christmas cards throughout the home or hang a wreath on their front door. There are many Christmas shops that open during the months preceding Christmas - they're filled to the brim with decorations, artificial trees and Christmas lights for homes and businesses.
• Christmas Eve and Boxing Day – Christmas lasts for more than one day in New Zealand; the day itself is preceded by Christmas Eve on the 24th of December and followed by Boxing Day on the 26th of December. Boxing Day is also part of Christmas celebration in the United Kingdom and many countries within the Commonwealth. In New Zealand, Christmas Eve sometimes involves a midnight church mass or a round of Christmas carols, while Boxing Day is traditionally a family day and a continuation of the relaxation and family festivities of Christmas Day.
• Food – Christmas Day celebrations are focused on festive fare. A Christmas Day menu in New Zealand (for either lunch or dinner) can consist of a traditional roast – Christmas ham, roast vegetables, potatoes and homemade gravy, followed up with steamed Christmas pudding and Christmas cake. While this winter fare appeals to many, some families prefer a lighter feast of barbequed meats, salads and a light pavlova or berry dessert. New Zealand Christmas lunches are often enjoyed Kiwi-style – at the beach, outdoors or by the pool.
• Summer holiday – As Christmas falls during summertime in New Zealand, many families choose to have fun in the sun, spending time over the holiday season enjoying the outdoors, staying at a bach (holiday house) or relaxing at the beach. Many businesses close for two weeks over the Christmas period, so this is a popular time for a holiday getaway, long holiday break or extended Christmas holiday.
• Festive Christmas carols – You may tire of hearing Christmas carols, but singing Christmas songs is enjoyed by both children and adults. There are many Christmas carol events in New Zealand cities and towns, where hundreds of people gather to sing carols by candlelight.

How is Christmas celebrated around the world?
Christmas is marked by a diverse range of customs, traditions and rituals in countries around the world. While Christmas is traditionally a Christian festival, it is celebrated by both religious and non-religious people, and today incorporates many secular customs. Here are just some of the ways Christmas Day is celebrated around the world:

• Belgium – Saint Nicholas is celebrated on the 6th of December, although de Kerstman (Father Christmas) does come around to deliver Christmas presents to children on Christmas Day. For breakfast on Christmas Day, a special sweet bread called cougnou is made in the shape of the baby Jesus.
• China – Christians in China mark Christmas time by hanging beautiful paper lanterns and Christmas lights on their houses. Christmas trees (called ‘trees of light’) are decorated with coloured paper flowers and paper lanterns. Children hang stockings, made from muslin, to be filled with gifts from Dun Che Lao Ren, meaning literally ‘Christmas Old Man’.
• France – Noel, or Christmas, is celebrated with a Christmas tree in the home, sometimes decorated in the traditional way with red ribbons and white wax candles. Outdoors, fir trees are also often decorated with Christmas lights.
• Germany – Houses in Germany are often decorated with lights and ‘stained glass’ decorations made from cellophane are placed on the windows and lit up from within the house. During the Advent period leading up to Christmas, a wreath with four candles, called an Adventskranz, features in the family home. Der Weihnachtsmann, Father Christmas, brings presents to be opened on Christmas Eve.
• Greece – The night before Christmas, children go from door to door offering good wishes for the season and singing kalanda or carols. Gifts are given on Saint Basil’s Day, the first day of January, and in place of a Christmas tree a shallow wooden bowl is placed in the home, holding a sprig of basil and a wooden cross.
• India – Mango and banana trees are decorated during the Christmas season, and houses are sometimes decorated with mango leaves or small oil-burning lamps made from clay.
• Italy – A 24 hour fast is followed by a Christmas feast, during which small gifts are given. The main day of giving is on the 6th of January, the Epiphany, celebrating the visit of the Three Wise Men to see the baby Jesus.
• Japan – Many western traditions have been adopted in the Japanese celebration of Christmas, so Christmas carols are sung and houses decorated with mistletoe. The Japanese god, Hoteiosho, depicted as a kind old man carrying a large sack, brings presents.
• Latvia – Presents are brought by Father Christmas on each of the twelve days of Christmas, beginning on Christmas Eve. Gifts are placed under the family Christmas tree (it was in Latvia that the first Christmas tree was said to have been decorated).
• Russia – Christmas is celebrated on January 7th, as the Russian Orthodox Church follows the old Julian calendar for its religious festivals. Father Frost brings children gifts and traditional celebratory foods are eaten, including cakes, pies and dumplings.
• Sweden – Christmas Eve is the most important time of celebration; a special meal of ham or pork, herring and brown beans is eaten, and family members exchange gifts.
• Ukraine – a Christmas Eve supper is served with twelve courses, each dedicated to one of Christ’s apostles. Two tablecloths are used in the table setting; one for family ancestors and the other for living members of the family.

Looking for more Christmas inspiration? Find Christmas ideas in our handy guide to the feative season.

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Seasons and Celebrations images from Flickr: Dyed Eggs, Chickees and Chocolate Bunnies.