CELEBRATING
CHRISTMAS AROUND
THE WORLD
It's almost Christmas, and according to some people, it's
"the most wonderful time of the year."
Here are Christmas celebrations that are found around the
world.
ARMENIA
Some Armenians choose to fast the week before Christmas. Then,
they break their fast with a light Christmas Eve meal called
"khetum," which includes rice, fish, chickpeas, yogurt soup, dried
nuts and grape jelly desserts.
SOUTH AFRICA
Why have eggnog and pumpkin pie when you can celebrate Christmas
by eating plump, fuzzy caterpillars, aka Emperor Moths? Don't worry, they're
fried in oil, so you know it's good... right?
UKRAINE
The Ukrainians use fake spider webs to cover their trees.
Why? According to legend, a poor widower had no money to decorate
the family's tree. Some friendly spiders were grief-stricken when they saw the
widow and her crying children, so at night, when everyone was asleep, they
decorated the tree with silver and gold.
After that, the poor family became prosperous, lucky and never
had a financial woe, ever again. Thus, a spider web-covered tree
signifies prosperity and wealth for the next year.
VENEZUELA
On Christmas Eve, Caracas, the capital
of Venezuela, closes its streets so everyone and anyone can make
their way to church.
INDIA
India is one of the most populous countries in the world,
meaning that translates to 25 million people who celebrate Christmas.
Due to lack of fir and pine trees in the region,
Indians use banana or mango trees as a substitute.
PHILIPPINES
You won't find stockings hanging on chimneys in the Philippines.
Rather, kids will polish their shoes and leave them by the window sills, so
when the Three Kings walk by at night, they'll leave presents.
IRELAND
Rather than milk and cookies for Santa, it's all about Christmas
pudding made with Guinness or Irish Whiskey. This tradition also carries over
to the UK.
Enjoy,
Ms. Nora Sierra
