Christmas is an event celebrated in many countries around the world. There are three countries here, Alaska, Africa, and Australia, all located in very different regions of the world and each have their own unique traditions and celebrations. These are some of its fascinating traditions and celebrations.
Alaska – “Carrying the Star” is a traditional Christmas procession. Young and old carry tinsel-adorned wheels elaborately decorated with eight points, usually as large as umbrellas. They are highlighted with a central image of an angel or the nativity scene. They are transported for three nights beginning January 7 over icy snow-covered roads. The stars represent the angels who announced the birth of Christ. Families lovingly keep the stars. Some are over a hundred years old!
Africa – There are approximately 350 million Christians in Africa who celebrate Christmas. The emphasis is more on the religious celebrations of the birth of Christ than on the giving of gifts. Although the most common gift (if nothing else) is new clothes that will be used for church service. People in many countries in Africa, such as the Central African Republic (CAR), Uganda, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, believe that it is absolutely mandatory to attend church on Christmas Day, even if they never attend the rest of the year. An annual Christmas parade, as well as carol groups singing carols within the villages, are now part of the festivities.
Churches in Africa begin intensive preparations for Christmas many months in advance. No one escapes the Christmas feeling as it has been said that it feels as if the whole country is preparing for the birth of baby Jesus with so much joyous and active community preparation! The streets are full of music, as well as on the radio, TV and just about everywhere you look! People joyfully visit their friends and relatives in a spirit of communal celebration, regardless of their religious beliefs. Brightly colored and decorated trucks, cars and buses are commonplace, as are homes, schools, churches and neighborhoods often featuring creative holiday displays made from colored crepe papers. Africa is colorful and alive with joyful celebration! Spectacular ancient masquerades locally called “Agugu” now play an important role in Christmas celebrations. Usually, after the Christmas Eve service, a joyous procession of dance and music takes place through the streets led by local bands with masked dancers (usually young children dressed in fancy and colorful costumes) and Christmas revelers. People parade with large, intricately crafted lanterns called “fanales,” usually in the shape of houses or boats.
In Ghana, Christmas dinner isn’t complete without fufu (a thick meal-like dough) and okra soup, and in Liberia, rice, beef and crackers are the order of the day. Zimbabweans make sure there is plenty of bread, jam and tea to eat with their prized goat meat, which is their traditional Christmas roast. On the west coast of Africa, most homes have an oil palm for their Christmas tree.
Austria – Saint Nicholas is widely honored and appears at his feast on December 6. In Austria, this is a separate holiday from Christmas. He appears in his traditional costume of flowing robe and high bishop’s miter carrying a shepherd’s staff and a thick book. It is believed that the good and bad deeds of children are recorded in his book! It was once a tradition to hold an elaborate Christmas Eve ceremony in which Saint Nicholas and the dreaded Ruprecht (a demonic creature, who wears a skin, has glowing eyes and a long red tongue) appear on Christmas Eve. The children gather and sing a hymn to welcome the Saint. Then, one by one, the children join the Saint at a family table where he reviews his lesson books and then asks them to repeat a prayer he says. This ends with the children kissing his bishop’s ring as he tells them to go put their shoes outside and then look at them as the clock strikes ten! Ruprecht stands over the door watching every movement of the children! Before St. Nicholas leaves, he blesses the children as he sprinkles them with holy water and then quietly and quickly leaves. The children with great excitement then run in a hurry to put their shoes outside their houses. At the stroke of ten children they run outside and find their shoes full of apple and nut candies.
Austria is a predominantly Catholic country known as the land of the sound of music and the home of Mozart, Strauss and Schubert. Included in the Christmas celebrations is the “Advent Concert Series” in Innsbruck. It features groups of familiar singers and instrumentalists similar to the famous “Trapp Family” from “The Sound of Music.” Another famous Christmas festivity is in Salzburg, where the most popular entry of the season is for the “Salburger Adventsingen”. It is an advent music and folklore program that began more than half a century ago. They receive more than 100,000 applications each year for the prized 30,000 tickets available for admission. Fish carp is served for the traditional Christmas dinner.
Austria is famous for its miniature crib figurines. Almost every family has a nativity scene with miniature figures of the holy family, and often some animals are included. Many nurseries are hundreds of years old, treasured heirlooms passed down from generation to generation!
Austrian Epiphany Celebrations: Boys and girls on Epiphany day (reminiscent of the Three Wise Men from the east seeking the newborn Jesus) dress up in oriental costumes and sing traditional songs. They move from house to house receiving small gifts, including gifts of money. They carry a lantern known as the “illuminated star of Bethlehem” to guide them on their way. It’s popular to see people chalk the three kings’ initials “CMB” (Casper, Melchior, Balthasar) on their door sills!
The fun Austrian tradition of Krampus Day: In Salzburg, December 5th is known as Krampus Day. Krampus is believed to be an evil spirit. Usually he is dressed in a scary skin, wears deer antlers, a mask with a long red tongue and bulging red eyes and carries a birch wood staff. He runs down the street with a loud bang using huge cowbells and jangling chains as he yells menacingly at the onlookers. Thousands, including many children, fill the streets to watch the medieval event. With much laughter and joy, every time children and adults see Krampus, they throw snowballs at this menacing figure. A “Krampus Race” is held in the town every year with fun and lots of teasing, shoving and laughing. Krampus’s purpose is said to be to remind children to be good!
In recent times in some communities the Krampus actors have to carry a number so they can be identified under their masks in case they lose control. Some have been known to get carried away after having too many spirits or beers. A leading Austrian child psychiatrist has been advocating a ban on Krampus. He suggests that it is “a jolly old scare” for children. However, there have been few known cases of “Krampus trauma”!
Australia – Christmas falls in the height of summer and the heat can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. It is common for people to hold outdoor barbecues for the main holiday of Christmas and parks and beaches are often full of family parties. It’s not uncommon to see thongs, shorts, a beer in hand, and a Santa hat on the head chef (usually the head of the family) at the Christmas Day barbecue, which is almost always followed by the most beloved desert. from Australia, “Pavlova”. He is as light and delicate as Anna Pavlova, the famous Russian ballerina for whom he is named.
Australian Carols by Candlelight – An Australian Christmas Eve carol service started in 1937 by radio host Norman Banks. Famous entertainers gather to sing at “Candlelight Christmas Carols” held every year in Melbourne. A very popular annual event televised throughout the country. Christmas carols are performed on a stage before a large audience where thousands attend in the open air with lit candles.
Beach visits on Christmas Day in Australia – Up to 40,000 people visit Bondi Beach in Sydney on Christmas Day! It’s the height of summer in Australia and with the heat levels soaring, barbecue lunches on the beach and swimming are popular while waiting for Santa to arrive on a boat on Christmas Day.
