Christmas
Ever since the Three Wise men placed their treasures before the newborn king in Bethlehem, Christmas, for Christians, has been a time of giving gifts. Though the meaning of Christmas is shared around the globe, countries around the globe have created their own Christmas customs and rituals.Christmas in Mexico: Las Posadas
In Mexico, the most cherished custom is the Posadas, which means lodging and refers to the nine days of celebration beginning December 16th, before "La Navidad" - Christmas day. This celebration commemorates the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and their search for a place to rest their heads each night.
Each child is given a candle, which is then lit as he joins a slow procession through the streets of the town. At the head of this procession are two children, who carry small figures of the Holy Family. As they approach each house, they are turned away. That is, until midnight, when they arrive at a home decorated with a replica of the Bethlehem stable. There, they arrange the figures, and place the child in the manger.
After prayers, children take turns striking a piñata until it is broken. With tremendous excitement, children scramble to gather up the gifts and candy that flow from the piñata. The celebration then culminates in a wondrous display of fireworks. Devout worshipers attend church to participate in the famous "Misa de Gallo" or "Mass of the Rooster." Following Mass, families return home for a dinner filled with traditional Mexican foods. The dishes vary with the different regions. However, somewhat common are the ,"tamales," rice, rellenos, "atole" (a sweet traditional drink) and "menudo," which is said to be more sobering than strong coffee.
Unlike in the U.S., Mexican children receive their gifts on January 6 - the "Day of the Wise Men." Rather than placing their stockings by a fireplace and waiting for Santa, children place their shoes outdoors and hope the Wise Men will fill them with toys.
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Christmas in Poland: Festival of the Star
Christmas Eve is affectionately called "little star" or "Gwiazdka," in remembrance of the star of Bethlehem. On this night, everyone watches the sky anxiously hoping to be the first to catch sight of the first star and cry out "The star!" When the star appears, everyone exchanges seasons greetings - "Wesolych Swiat" - and good wishes.
Families then unite (it is considered bad luck to entertain guests on this sacred night) for the most carefully planned meal of the year - "Wigilia" - Christmas supper. According to tradition, bits of hay are spread beneath the table cloth as a reminder that Christ was born in a manger. The main Polish Christmas dish consists of 12 courses, though traditionally, no meat is served! Dishes vary by region, but certain items are found just about everywhere. These include: poppy seed cake, beet soup, prune dumplings, and noodles with poppy seed.
According to tradition, an even number of people must be seated around the table, or, the superstition goes, someone might die in the coming year. Other customs include: three young men dressing up as the three wise men and bringing gifts to everyone; at midnight church bells are rung, calling everyone to "Pasterka" - Shepherd's Mass; the church is decorated with Christmas trees and colored lights; the crece is a focal point, and stays in place until January 6.
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Article Continues: Christmas in Italy and Hanukkah